On Friday, the Lagos State Police Command paraded five suspected armed robbers.
The Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command, Umar Manko, said the suspects were arrested following intelligence policing by the command.
Manko gave the names of the suspects as Ali Kadiri, 30; Victor Alegbe 19; Joseph Nnam, 30; Kingley Ekweume; and a graduate of the Lagos StateUniversity, Chigozie Abba, 24 .
The police boss stated that arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
These included seven AK47 rifles; 700 rounds of live ammunition; 59 AK47 magazines; one K2 rifle; one LAR riffle; and 20 rounds of live ammunition and one magazine.
Others included three pump action guns, one single barrel gun and 151 cartridges.
Other items recovered were five pieces of dynamites and bomb accessories, one Toyota Sienna space bus with registration number AMC 347 AE, used as the armoury by the gang, one Jaguar Car with vehicle number TT 518 KJA and one Volkwagen commercial bus with registration number LUY 121 XA.
According to the police, the gang was preparing to launch out for a robbery operation at Ajangbadi area of the state before they were arrested on October 10.
Manko said: “The group of young men were operating in a Toyota Sienna bus and two Lsgos State commercial buses but officers from Area K received information and the operation led by ACP Adesina Soyemi trailed the suspects to Dapo Bus Stop along Adaloko Jakande area and arrested three of the suspects after a fierce gun battle.”
It was gathered that the case was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja and following confession by the suspects.
Another member of the gang identified as Kingsley Ekwueme was arrested while SARS operatives recovered the weapons and vehicles.
In another development, Officers from the Area E Police Station arrested Abba for alleged arms running and robbery.
Abba, a graduate of Polymer Science, was arrested at Festac Town with a bank containing arms and ammunition.
Following his arrest, other members of his gang were arrested.
Abba said his inability to get a job led him to crime.
He said: “I just help to link the robbers with the car dealers in Cotonou.
“It’s the car dealers who give me the guns to give to the robbers but that day at Festac I was arrested.
“The gang use the guns to snatch cars and rob and the cars are taken to Cotonou.
“I went into it for the first time.”
Manko stated that investigation is ongoing to arrest other members of the gangs.
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