Disturbed by the rising cases of car snatching gangs that usually target and kill hailing service drivers, the Lagos Police Command yesterday said its operatives have smashed syndicates and arrested seven suspects.
The Commissioner of Police (CP), Olarenwaju Ishola, disclosed that while briefing journalists on the successes recorded since September.
The police boss said one of the syndicates was that of a four-man gang headed by a United States (US) teenager returned to Nigeria by the father.
He said the gang stabbed an Uber rider to death in an attempt to steal his Toyota Camry, on Thursday, January 9, adding that the vehicle had been recovered from them.
According to the CP, the suspects- Emeka Akwara, 19, David Segun, 21, Samuel Ariori, 21, and Lukman Ariori, 19- requested the ride around midnight on Thursday at Chevron area of Lekki en route Obalende.
”Upon arriving at Obalende in a secluded area, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck. Fortunately, they were unable to steal the vehicle, thanks to the intervention of good Samaritans and passersby. Two suspects were immediately arrested and handed over to police operatives at Lion Building. “Further investigation led to the arrest of two more fleeing suspects, in the Chevron area of Lagos. The deceased’s body was deposited at the Mainland Hospital Yaba morgue,” said CP Ishola.
He revealed that three other suspects, Edmond Julius, 34, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and Saturday Oke, 40, were also arrested in connection with the murder of another Uber driver three months ago.
Ishola said the suspects confessed to kidnapping an Uber driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler, at Ajah and robbed him of his Toyota Camry car before murdering him.
“The suspects sold the stolen vehicle to their receiver and led the police to recover the decomposed body of the deceased and the vehicle.
Noting that the latest was the third reported incident in three months with others still unknown, the CP advised Uber drivers to carry only one passenger at a time and ensure they were searched, and have them sit in the front passenger seat.
He also announced plans to provide security tips to drivers to prevent them from becoming victims.
The CP said the command was working on advance security strategy that would see the deployment of drones across the length and breath of the state for fast anti-crime interventions where necessary.
He said the strategy was underway and would be effected once the governor’s consent was sought and gotten since it was capital intensive.
The police boss also revealed that operatives have been smashing what he termed “constructive kidnapping” cases, describing it as criminals who lure young women, especially those on the fast lane with affluence only to hold them hostage after their arrival in the state, fleece them of their resources and then contact their families for ransom.
He said the command had reduced no fewer than 16 women from such situations, adding that they are usually bought business class tickets and kept in high-end hotels by the suspects who proceed to take advantage of them and kidnap them.
On the alleged report of six girls said to have gone missing at Lekki, Ishola said no report had been made of it till date, adding that neither relatives nor the woman who raised the alarm has come to the police to provide any information.
Assessing the security situation in the state during the yuletide, CP Ishola noted that it was peaceful, adding that the over 500,000 diaspora visitors recorded to have come to the state during the period didn’t experience anything untoward.
He said : “It’s on record that Murtala Muhammed International Airport welcomed over 500,000 diaspora Nigerians. Notably, 90% of them chose to stay within Lagos for their celebrations. The reason is clear: Lagos works, and Lagos is safe. As reported on December 30, Christmas celebrations in the city were marked by uninhibited festivities, which continue to this day.
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“This was made possible because we followed the directives given by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Ebetokun.
“Comparatively, Lagos is rated the safest state in Nigeria, and we appreciate Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his logistics support in the quest to save Lagos’ initiative. I commend my police officers and men for their unwavering commitment to keeping directives and being humane while performing their duties.”
Continuing, the CP said no fewer than 2,117 cases have been charged to court within the period, adding that the command also recovered assorted firearms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles that were snatched from a police division during the ENDSARS violence of October 2020.
