Four suspected members of a
robbery gang that unleashed terror
on the Lekki area of Lagos on
Thursday, March 12, have been
arrested by the Lagos State Police
Command.
Our correspondent learnt that the
suspected robbers ─ Duke Odogbo,
38, said to be the gang leader;
Lawrence Kingsley, 31; Ebi Tosan,
20; and 30-year-old Ekelemo Kuete
─ were arrested in Delta, Ogun,
Ondo and Lagos states.
PUNCH Metro had reported on
Friday, March 13, that three
policemen and a fish seller were
killed by the gang which stormed
the First City Monument Bank
Limited on Admiralty Way in the
Lekki area.
It was also reported that the
robbers, numbering about 13,
arrived at the bank, wielding AK-47
rifles and shooting sporadically for
30 minutes, during which the 14-
year-old fish seller, Sarah Ibikunle,
and three policemen were killed.
Our correspondent gathered that
after the attack, the Commissioner
of Police, Kayode Aderanti, met
with all commanders of the
command’s combat units and
assigned the task of fishing out the
gang members to the Special Anti-
Robbery Squad, led by SP Abba
Kyari.
It was learnt that six decoy teams of
SARS were deployed to arrest the
suspects from Lagos and the other
three states.
Speaking on Wednesday, Odogbo,
from Warri, Delta State, said they
killed the policemen because the
gang was prepared to deal with
every resistance.
He added that they came with
seven AK-47 rifles and carted away
over N15m in the operation.
He said, “I am an Ijaw man living in
Delta State. I was invited to Lagos
to take part in the operation. I am
not the gang leader, but only an
expert. We were initially at a
hideout around the Langbasa River
till about 4pm.
“When it was time to move, we
entered into two speedboats. I
wore a military uniform and we
entered into Lekki from the
riverside. When we got to the bank,
I was the first person to enter.
“We were 11 in number, and we
had seven guns. In the banking hall,
I asked for the bank manager, but
they said they could not find him.
We found some little cash ─ about
N15m─ in a sack.
“While the operation was going on,
others were outside, shooting to
secure the area. It was on our way
back that I found two rifles with
them. They told me they collected
them from the policemen they
killed.
“What happened was that the
policemen were in a van, and were
passing by. They thought they
came for us and we could not take
chances.
“So, they shot them and took their
guns. On our way out, we tried to
open the Automated Teller
Machines, but when they did not
open on time, we took the
machines with us.
“I was arrested in Warri. I got
N500,000 for my part in the
operation.”
Also, Ekelemo, who reportedly
drove the speedboat, said they
took off from the Majidun area. He,
however, denied that he was one
of those that shot the policemen.
He said, “I was the driver of the
gang. I drove the speedboat. I am
also an Ijaw man. I stay around the
Arepo area of Ogun State. It was my
brothers who called me to
participate in the robbery. We call
one of the gang leaders, O.C. We
had taken off on that Thursday from
the Majidun area.”
Our correspondent gathered that
the police recovered a Honda
Accord, 2008 model, bought with
the proceeds from the robbery.
Two smart phones, stolen from the
bank workers during the operation,
were also recovered from the gang,
as well as 130 rounds of
ammunition.
The police identified the three
deceased officers as Inspector
Bethel Agbobu, Sergeant
Odehohwo George, and Corporal
Imoisiu Ikechukwu.
The CP said efforts were on to
arrest the remaining members of
the gang, adding that residents of
the state should trust the police to
guarantee safety of lives and
property.
He said, “The incident was a serious
security breach in the Lekki area. It
captured the attention of all
because five lives, including three
of our officers, were lost. I made a
promise that we were going to get
these hoodlums, and we have done
that.
“Lagos is not a place where
criminals can hide; we are going to
continue to ensure safety of lives
and property.
“Meanwhile, efforts are on to arrest
other members of the gang.”
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
