The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbers

  • Trailer knocks down fleeing robbers on expressway

    Ill luck befell two robbery suspects in Ogun state as a moving truck knocked them while fleeing from police operatives attached  to the Ibafo Division of the Ogun State Police Command.

    The two suspected robbers were arrested along the notorious long bridge towards by Isheri end of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

    The robbers who were robbing some road users in front of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, had fled upon sighting the Police but arrested when a moving truck on the Expressway knock down two of them while being chased by the Police.

    The suspected robbers seriously wounded before they were eventually arrested alive, are Sola Bilaminu and Ibrahim Sandi – both of no fixed address.

    Stolen items and their operational motorcycle used for the robbery attack on victims were recovered by the Police.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the victims of the robbery operation have  identified the suspects as those who attacked them while the stolen items have also been returned to the owners.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), said the Commissioner of Police,  Abdulmajid Ali, lauded the Police operatives for their commitment  and courage while the suspects would be transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad(SARS) in Abeokuta for investigation.

    According to him, Ali has directed that the Ogun state stretch of the expressway should be adequately  policed regularly to protect road users who ply it by night.

    “We are assuring the good people of Ogun State and all road users in the state of adequate security of lives and property as police teams have been detailed  to police the major expressways within the state,” Adejobi said.

  • Trailer knocks down fleeing robbers on expressway

    Trailer knocks down fleeing robbers on expressway

    Ill luck befell two robbery suspects in Ogun state as a moving truck knocked them while fleeing from police operatives attached to the Ibafo Division of the Ogun State Police Command.

    The two robbers were arrested along the notorious long bridge towards by Isheri end of the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.

    The robbers who were robbing some road users in front of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministry, had fled upon sighting the Police but arrested when a moving truck on the Expressway knock down two of them while being chased by the Police.

    The suspected robbers seriously wounded before they were eventually arrested alive, are Sola Bilaminu and Ibrahim Sandi – both of no fixed address.

    Stolen items and their operational motorcycle used for the robbery attack on victims were also recovered by the Police.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the victims of the robbery operation have identified the suspects as those who attacked them while the stolen items have also been returned to the owners.

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, lauded the Police operatives for their commitment and courage while the suspects would be transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abeokuta for investigation.

    According to him, Ali has directed that the Ogun state stretch of the expressway should be adequately policed regularly to protect road users who ply it by night.

    “We are assuring the good people of Ogun State and all road users in the state of adequate security of lives and property as police teams have been detailed to police the major expressways within the state,” Adejobi said.

     

  • Robbers snatch The Nation man’s camera, cash

    Robbers snatch The Nation man’s camera, cash

    A photojournalist with The Nation, Rahman Sanusi, was on Saturday robbed around Chicken George Bus-Stop on Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos.

    He was returning from an official assignment around 11pm with Sola Ogundipe, Health Editor of Vanguard when the incident happened.

    The robbers, who were on a motorcycle, snatched his bag from him.

    He said: “They were two on the motorcycle. One was riding while the other operated. Myself and the health editor ran like babies in the rain. We chased them as they sped off towards Palm Avenue but we couldn’t meet them. I fell on my knees thrice.”

    Sanusi said his Canon 60D camera with 18-55mm lens, Canon 18-300 zoom lens, Canon flash gun, an 8GB flash drive, one camera battery charger, two Nokia phones, N23,600 cash and his identity card were in the bag.

    “When I discovered my bag had been snatched, I shouted thief! thief!! thief!!! and ran after them but they zoomed off. I am glad we weren’t shot dead. The camera is worth over N500,000. I stay in Sango. The reason I did not go home from the assignment was because I was scared I may be robbed since it was late. I didn’t know what I was avoiding would eventually happen to me. I couldn’t sleep throughout the night. As I speak, I can feel pains on my legs. I have been in this job for over 37 years and I have never experienced such an incident. As I walked to the office, I cried like a baby but I was at the same time grateful my life was spared,” he said.

    The incident, Sanusi said, has been reported at the Ladipo Police Station.

  • Five suspected robbers killed

    •Arms, ammunition recovered

    Five suspected robbers have been killed and others injured in a clash between the robbers and the Inspector General of Police Anti-Robbery Squad, which partnered a hunter, Ali Kwarra, in Bauchi State.

    Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed told reporters yesterday that arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects.

    He said the battle followed an intelligence report received by the police and Kwarra’s partnership team.

    Mohammed said: “The incident occurred at Kunjin/Lodio forest, Bursari, in Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The suspects were attacked while preparing for an operation.”

    He said four AK 47 rifles, one locally-made revolver pistol, 164 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, nine rounds of .9mm ammunition, seven empty magazines, two expended ammunition and N17,000,cash were recovered from the suspected robbers.

    The police spokesman said their bodies were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Azare morgue and investigation was on.

    Kwarra said the suspects terrorised residents.

    He said they killed people and imposed levies on the villagers, ranging from N400,000 to N1 million.

    The Secretary of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Adamu Gidado, said: “The robbers snatched over N41 million after killing seven people. I hope and pray that now that they are dead, we will experience peace.”

  • Suspected robbers kill police corporal

    SUSPECTED armed robbers yesterday shot dead police Corporal Babatunde Odumosu (a.k.a Rambo) attached to Diamond Bank in Satellite Town, on Old Ojo Road, Lagos.

    Eyewitnesses said he was killed in a gun battle with the hoodlums, but the police said he was walking by when he was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle.

    The Nation learnt that it was the third time in three weeks that robbers would be terrorising the area. Sources said they usually operated on Thursdays.

    The late Odumosu, it was gathered, was posted to the bank last Sunday.

    A security man, who did not give his name, said the hoodlums were operating at Alakija Junction before the late Odumosu and three others attached to the bank went to the scene.

    “When they got to the junction, the police officers and the robbers shot at each other before the bullet hit Rambo. He couldn’t survive. His body was taken to Navy Town Mortuary by officers attached to Satellite Police Station,” he said.

    A driver, simply called Asiwaju, said he was on the queue at a filling station when he saw five motorcycles approaching the expressway.

    The hoodlums, he said were 10, adding that they tied handkerchiefs on their mouths.

    “I saw everything that happened. In fact, two police officers would have died if not for a tanker that was parked on the other side of the road; the bullet almost hit another police officer. The guy who I presume is their leader put a gun on his thigh and shot continuously targeting another police officer after he killed one of them. The police officer’s bullet hit his motorcycle but he hijacked a motorcycle from a motorcyclist and zoomed off. It was like a movie scene. I couldn’t come out from my bus.”

    A trader, Desmond Adamo, who sells building materials, said on March 10 and 17, a food vendor simply called Iya Ibeji and a yet-to-be identified man were killed by robbers.

    “Iya Ibeji sells beside the bank. Her death was painful. She was serving a customer before she was hit by a stray bullet. She died immediately. Today (yesterday) was her fidau prayer in Ibadan. The bullet slit a man’s throat before it hit her on the side. Her children heard the news from their school that day. The other man was a member of The Lord’s Chosen Church because he wore their uniform. It is painful.

    “I remember vividly that the police patrolled around Alakija junction for a while but the robbers never showed up but since they stopped coming to the area, they (robbers) come regularly,” Adamo said.

    Another trader, Jamiu Alapatira, said the robbers usually finished their operations at Alakija, Danata and Finniger Bus-Stops, killing one or two persons.

    “It is very unfortunate. Policemen have made several attempts to kill these people during operations but they are charmed. They once shot at them but they weren’t injured instead they stood on their motorbikes and shot at anyone passing. There was a day one of them dragged a woman from a commercial bus, shot her on the leg and collected her money. It was later we heard the woman was coming from a bank. We need security in this area.”

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said Odumosu’s body has been deposited in a mortuary.

    In another text message to our reporter, Badmos said: “No attempted robbery there today (yesterday). Only a policeman walking by on the road was shot dead by two men on motorbike.”

  • Security agents kill 11 suspected trans-border robbers at Seme

    Eleven persons including a wanted man, Tokiche, a.k.a. “TK’’, were killed at Seme border during gun battle with security agents.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, who made this known on Friday in Ikeja, said the suspects were overpowered by the security agents, including policemen from Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

    Owoseni said the 17-man robbery gang was led by TK to attack banks and Bureaux-de-Change at Seme border but the attempt was foiled by security operatives.

    According to him, TK had been on the police wanted list for various violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, cultism and pipeline vandalism, among others.

    The commissioner said TK had over 200 men which he used to carry out crimes, stressing that he also had properties in different places, including Isawo, Ikorodu in Lagos State.

    “TK has his signature in various violent crimes in Ogun, Ondo, Edo and the Republic of Benin.

    “They also intercepted a vessel in Niger/Delta Area. He shifts his base from one place to another depending on the operation he wants to carry out.

    “On March 16, we got a report that TK and his gang were planning to attack banks and bureau-de-change at Seme border area.

    “They were said to have come in three boats at about 3 a.m. and immediately started shooting sporadically in commando style,’’ Owoseni said.

    “The Police, Customs, Immigration, the Joint Military Task Force and policemen from Republic of Benin who had earlier prepared for them foiled their operation.

    “The gang surrendered to the superior gun power of the security agencies and fled.

    “The security agents and members of the public pursued them and at the end of the day, 11 of them were killed, while six others escaped. We are on the trail of those at large.’’

    He said three boats, with one of them having the inscription: “Castina Marine’’, 22 pieces of dynamite, six AK-47 rifles, two general purpose machine guns and 33,678 life ammunition were recovered.

    Other recovered items, he added, were 22 empty magazines, eight life jackets, 350 litres jerry can of fuel, two 100 litres jerry cans of fuel, one military magazine, jackets and assorted pieces of charms.

    Owoseni said the bodies had been deposited at the mortuary.

    He said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr Solomon Arase, praised all the security agencies involved in the operation, including those of Republic of Benin, for their cooperation.

    He added that the IGP called for more of such partnership in future.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, reports that three bodies, including TK’s were paraded before reporters before being taken to the mortuary.

     

  • Robbers chop off Edo granny’s wrists

    Robbers chop off Edo granny’s wrists

    •Seeks N.4m to fix right wrist

    Robbers have chopped off the wrists of a septuagenarian, Pa Jacob Ikilo,  a security guard at a filling station at Eyaen village, on the Benin-Auchi Road.

    Pa Jacob is receiving treatment at the Male Orthopaedic Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where doctors are battling to save his right wrist.

    The severed right wrist, being kept alive by a tiny blood vessel, requires N380,000 to be fixed back.

    The incident was said to have occurred on Monday, February 29, at 3 am, when Pa Jacob was on night duty.

    Pa Jacob said the robbers used machete to chop off his wrist when he went to check an unusual noise at the plant house.

    He said he heard people running towards him. As he attempted to run, the robbers attacked him.

    “When I was coming from the generator house, they surrounded me. They just cut off this my hand (left hand). As I shout, they said shut up and cut the other hand. I fell down and started asking them to leave me, that I was dying.”

    The company manager was said to have invited the Egba Divisional Police Station after a driver discovered Pa Jacob.

    Pa Jacob said he needs money to pay the bills as he had been working for the last six months without his N15, 000 monthly pay.

    He said his employer did not pay regularly even when he did 12 hours work daily.

    Pa Jacob added that N3, 000 was deducted and paid to the company that helped him to get the job which made his take home pay N12,000.

    Efforts to reach the management of the company failed.

  • Robbers attack two hospitals in Ondo

    Armed robbers at the weekend attacked two private hospitals in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    A source said the robbers  made away with money and other valuables belonging to  staff and patients.

    According to the source, the robbers also carted away some medical equipment.

    It was also gathered that patients and nurses, who had no money to give to the robbers, were beaten up.

    A victim, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “There were five masked robbers.

    “They came to the hospitals on motorcycles and threatened to shoot whoever fails to cooperate with them.

    “All of us on duty lay down and allowed them to carry out their operation without any hindrance.

    “They asked everybody, including the patients, to bring out money and those who did not have any money were beaten up.”

    “We tried to call the police but could not because they had collected our phones,” he added.

    The source said nobody was killed.

    It was gathered that immediately after the operation in the first hospital, the victims reported the matter at the police station.

    But less than 24 hours later, another operation was carried out in another hospital by the same gang.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph could not be reached for comments but an officer in the State Anti-Robbery Squad said the police were investigating the incidents.

  • 14 feared killed as robbers attack two banks in Osun with dynamite

    Three members of a robbery gang that attacked two new generation banks in Eko-Ende road in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun local government area of Osun State, were yesterday shot dead by the police.

    Unconfirmed reports said that no fewer than ten passers-by were killed during the gun duel between the robbers and the police.

    Although four police men were said to have been killed by the robbers but Osun police spokesperson, Sade Odoro, said only one officer was lost during the operation.

    People were in fear for about  an hour that the robbers operated, according to a source, who preferred anonymity.

    Confirming the incident,Osun Police Commissioner, Mr. Kola Sodipo, said the heavily armed gang attacked the banks around 4.05 pm.

    The police boss said that a member of the gang was arrested while the rest of them escaped with their loot.

    He also disclosed that the operational vehicle of the armed gang was demobilised by the police.

    However, Sodipo advised the members of the public to report anyone with bullet wounds to the nearest police station, assuring that the police was on top of the security of the state.

  • RRS nabs suspect robbing drivers on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

    RRS nabs suspect robbing drivers on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

    The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos Police Command said it had arrested a suspected member of a gang which specialises in robbing broken-down trucks on the Oshodi – Apapa Expressway.

    This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Lagos RRS Commander, Mr Olatunji Disu.

    The statement said that the suspect, Bayo Folayemi, 27, who claimed to be living under the Mile 2 Bridge, was arrested after his partner, now at large, removed a wallet from a truck driver’s pocket.

    “The victim’s articulated vehicle broke down on the highway, and in the course of repairing it, the suspect and his gang demanded money from him.

    “The suspects started to maltreat him. One of them dipped his hands into the driver’s back pocket and removed his wallet which contained N4, 500.

    “When the victim noticed that his wallet had been stolen, he held on tightly to the suspect who was still dragging him on with his trousers, and then shouted for help.

    “Immediately, the RRS policemen on patrol arrived the scene and arrested the suspect while the others escaped,’’ the statement said.

    The statement quoted the suspect as saying that his involvement in forceful extortion from truck and lorry drivers was his only means of survival.

    It said that the suspect had been transferred to the office of the Lagos State Task Force on Environment for necessary action.