The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday paraded two suspects who allegedly participated in the Sunday September 9, 2012 robbery operation that left at least three policemen and a number of civilians dead.
Ngozi Braide, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, while parading the suspects at the police headquarters in Ikeja, said police officers attached to the Special Anti-robbery Squad, Ikeja, led by the officer-in-charge, Superintendent of Police Abba Kyari, acted on a tip off and arrested one Rasheed Suleimon at Dopemu area of the state.
“Suliemon later led SARS detectives to arrest one Kazeem Enifolabi at Oshodi. Both confessed to know the members of the gang of armed robbers that participated in Lagos on 9th of September 2012 where many civilians and policemen were killed,” Braide said.
Braide added that the police recovered ammunition from the suspects.
She added: “We are on the trail of the other suspects and contrary to belief that policemen did not chase the robbers that day, the police chased them and that was why some of our officers were killed.
“We allowed the robbers to escape to avoid civilian casualties.
“The robbers were shooting sporadically so we did not want innocent lives to be lost in the ensuring gun battle.
“But officers are working hard and the fleeing suspects will be arrested soon.”
The suspects however denied participating in the robbery.
Suliemon said: “After the robbery, Kazeem came to me and was bragging that they went to operation and they even killed policemen.
“I did not go with them that day but I am a phone thief.
“They gave me N3,000 to keep my mouth shut.
“That is all I know.”
Braide added that Suleimon “took SARS operatives to Wahabi Street, Akerele, Agege where the gang members’ vehicle was recovered with two AK47 rifles and four magazines hidden inside.”