Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) early morning on Sunday, arrested two notorious suspected ‘one-chance’ armed robbery gang at Ikate, Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba disclosed that they were nabbed by the patrol team of the agency while on duty monitoring and controlling traffic around Lekki-Ajah axis of the state.
According to the General Manager, “our officials while on traffic patrol heard passengers with loud voice shouting thieves! thieves!! inside an unpainted T4 commercial bus (AAA 750 XX). They tried to stop the driver but he drove dangerously and our men pursued them with their patrol vehicle down to Ikate where they were blocked by another vehicle belonging to a good Samaritan.”
Oreagba confirmed that while two suspects were arrested, the other remaining two escaped with the P.O.S they used to withdraw passengers’ money inside the T4 commercial bus.
“The two arrested suspects with the recovered unpainted T4 commercial bus were later handed over to R.R.S personnel who were on pin-down at Chisco, along Lekki- Ajah.”
They were all later moved down to Ilasan Police Station for further investigations.
The General Manager however advised Lagos residents to always ensure they board buses at designated bus stops and always be vigilant/keen-eyed especially when boarding public vehicles.
One of the rescued passengers, Christophe Omukoro said he boarded the unpainted commercial bus from Alfa-Beach going to Ikate.
He disclosed that they were four with P.O.S machine collecting passengers’ ATM cards and withdrawing money from individual account.
Omukoro confirmed that passengers started shouting thieves! thieves!! thieves!!! after they had collected their phones with other valuables items from them.
Other rescued victims are Laffin Lawrence and Owo Chidinma.