Detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja are still trying to know how a police corporal who was dismissed for robbery found his way back into the force.
The suspect, Telma Bintiu, attached to MOPOL 43, Lion Building, Lagos Island, took to robbery like duck to water while he was still a corporal.
Bintiu’s secret sin was soon discovered and he was kicked out of the force in 2007.
He was charged to court and sentenced to prison.
After serving the three years prison term slammed on him, he secured his freedom and mysteriously enlisted back into the Nigeria Police Force.
Bintiu did not only enrol back into the force, he also allegedly went back to robbery.
The first time Bintiu enlisted into the police was in 2003.
He received his training at the Police College in Kaduna.
He was arrested for robbery at Imeko, a border in Ogun State in 2007, with four other suspects.
Two locally made pistols and 20 rounds of cartridges were recovered from them.
Bintiu faced an orderly room trial, was found guilty and dismissed that same year.
The suspect, who is from Plateau State, was said to have served at the Force Headquarters, Obalende, Lagos State after his re-enlistment into the police and his sojourn in prison.
A police source said: “He was working at the Force Headquarters when another robbery happened.
“A container was hijacked at gun point.
“Information got to the police about the hijacked container and investigation started.
“He was traced and arrested.
“The police did not know then he was a policeman.
“He was arrested just like other suspects arrested in connection with the hijacking of the container valued at millions of naira.
“During interrogation, anti-robbery detectives discovered an Identity card on him.
“The ID card showed that he was a policeman, working with MOPOL 43.
“Further investigation showed that he was a policeman.”
Investigators alerted the MOPOL 43 Squadron Commander, who admitted knowing him, but explained that Bintiu had been dismissed since 2007 for robbery.
A source added: “In this latest arrest, two locally made guns were recovered from him.
“He was arrested at Festac area.
“The police discovered that he went there to sell the hijacked container at a garage owned by one Baba Saidi.
“Baba Saidi is a notorious receiver of stolen goods.”
The suspect is still in police custody and will be charged again to court for armed robbery.
Police spokesman in Lagos State, Kenneth Nwosu, said he was not aware of the story, but would find out and revert.
Nwosu was yet to do so as at press time.