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Tag: RRS

  • RRS nabs suspected streetlight cable thief

    RRS nabs suspected streetlight cable thief

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a vandal for allegedly digging up the armoured cable for the Ojota Street light and removing its silver protector.

    Obaji Christopher, 23, from Benue State, was caught last Saturday by RRS men on routine surveillance of Ojota loop, inward Ketu-Alapere Road around 11:20am while allegedly pulling out the cable.

    Obaji, who claimed to have arrived in Lagos two weeks ago, was said to have dug up the cable with hoe. He was said to be with an accomplice, who fled.

    In a statement yesterday, RRS said: “Early on Saturday morning, during our daily patrol routine, we saw the suspect where he was vandalising the armoured cable meant to electrify Lagos in Ojota.

    “The cable was buried after it was laid. We saw him and his accomplice digging up the cable. He was using hoe to bring the cable to the surface while his friend had on him a broken saw, cutting some part in the cable,” he said.

    The suspect, the RRS said, claimed that poverty led him into the act.

    It quoted Christopher as saying: “I just arrived in Lagos about two weeks ago. When I had nowhere to sleep, I started sleeping inside Ojota park. It was at this park that I met one guy, simply identified as Anago, who introduced me to this job.

    “Anago told me that if I was able to go for two to three operations, I will have enough money to take care of my present predicament. On this very day, we went together to Ojota for the operation. When we got there, both of us dug the ground where the cable was buried.

    “We had successfully pulled it out. But to my surprise, I didn’t know how my friend escaped from the scene. When I was about to be packing the cable into a sack, I saw policemen appeared. At this point, I didn’t know what to do again. That was how I was arrested”.

    Last April 2, the RRS arrested Lucky Udeagwu for allegedly stealing a 35-meter-long armoured cable meant for the Light up Lagos’ project in Ogudu.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent (SP) said the government would not tolerate vandalism and saboteurs.

    The suspect has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS’s) office in Ikeja.

     

  • 59 arrested in RRS’ raid of ‘black spots’

    59 arrested in RRS’ raid of ‘black spots’

    FIFTY-NINE persons were arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives during a raid on hideouts and black spots in Lagos State last Saturday.

    The operation, the RRS said, was part of the routine exercise on those places to curb crime and ensure peace and order.

    The suspects were picked up between midnight and 2am in Oshodi, Ojota, Oregun, Mile 12, LASU/Iyana – Iba junction and Mile 2 after repeated surveillance on those areas by the RRS Intelligence Teams.

    It was learnt that some of the spots were raided following information by the public, which was confirmed by the police.

    Of the 59 suspects, 44 were released after screening.

    Thirteen others described by the RRS as drug addicts, pickpockets and with questionable sources of livelihood were sent to the State Environmental Task Force for prosecution.

    The RRS said it is questioning the remaining two, who are suspected cultists.

    They are among 12 persons arrested in Oregun. Ten others have been released.

    The suspected cultists, who are minors, the RRS said, have confessed to being members of the gang terrorising Oregun and Olusosun.

    The RRS quoted one of the suspects, a tailor, as saying that he was forced to join the gang by a friend, Sadiq, adding: “He invited me out and I was initiated in Oregun High School, Oregun. Kehinde is the leader of the cult group “Eiye”. He lives in Ikorodu but I don’t know his house.

    “He comes to our meetings occasionally. It has been long since I saw him. The group took all I had on me the day I was initiated. They took my money, N6000, my phone, wristwatch and my shoes. We meet at Ita Egbe in Oregun. Other members of the Eiye Cult group in Oregun are: Ayo, Eyo, Bobo Olusosun, Last Born, Don Banny, Elewedu, Two Yansh, Pepper, Little 9 and Akube. We meet at 7p.m.”.

    The other suspect, an orphan and an apprentice tailor, said he was forced to join the group by his master.

    The RRS is on the trail of other members of the cult gang.

    Acting police spokesman Damasus Ozoani, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the police would do anything to sanitise Lagos.

  • RRS saves mother, baby from suicide

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on Wednesday stopped a woman from committing suicide with her baby.

    Halimat Adegoke, 27, (not real names) reportedly tried to jump into the Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge at about 5:00pm before RRS riders intervened.

    The woman, who was taken to RRS headquarters at Alaus,a said she trekked from Medina Estate in Gbagada to the Third Mainland Bridge because a voice kept telling her to go there.

    The police said it was a cab driver who signalled the RRS riders on routine patrol about the incident.

    The woman said she had issues with her husband and later moved to her parent’s house in Gbagada.

     

  • RRS arrest seven as hoodlums clash in Lagos

    RRS arrest seven as hoodlums clash in Lagos

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Sunday arrested seven persons in the Ejigbo area of Lagos after a bloody clash between hoodlums.

    The fight which broke out between Agbole and Coker boys around the NNPC jetty, left several people injured.

    It was gathered that trouble erupted over auto spare parts but by one of the Agbole boys from Coker.

    The ware which was bought about a week ago was said to have been faulty, prompting the buyer to seek a refund.

    But the trader was said to have denied refunding the money, an action which Angered the buyer.

    He was said to have gone and brought some of his boys who attacked the Coker boys.

    In retaliation, the Coker boys stormed Ejigbo and attacked the Agbole boys, injuring many others and four vehicles parked on the street were vandalised.

    It took the intervention of the RRS Commander, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and his team, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), as well as the traditional ruler in the area.

    Confirming the incident, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the injured were taken to the hospital.

    She added that the suspects have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti.

  • Breaking News: Police arrest alleged wife killer in Lagos

    Breaking News: Police arrest alleged wife killer in Lagos

    The Police has arrested suspected wife killer in Lagos, Lekan Shonde.

    He was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos.

    Shonde alleged that his deceased wife, Ronke provoked him by describing vividly how her lover slept with her in a hotel in Abuja.

    The man was accused of killing his wife at their Idimu-Egbeda home last Thursday.

    He reportedly fled the scene after the incident, leaving behind their two children.

    Details later…

  • RRS arrests suspected vandal

    RRS arrests suspected vandal

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a 28-year-old man, Kazeem Ademola, for allegedly stealing the railings for the reinforcement of Ijora Bridge.

    He was arrested around 7pm on Ijora Bridge inward CMS on Saturday night while packing 30 pieces of the railings into a Danfo bus.

    RRS quoted the suspect as saying that he was invited by a scrap scavenger, simply named Kapol to transport the metals for him.

    He said he was shocked when he saw the metal scraps because he suspected that the guy must have stolen them.

    “I have not worked for four days with the bus. I was coming from where it was parked when I saw Kapol. I begged him to help me push the bus. It was while we were pushing the vehicle that he told me I was going to help him carry the metal,” RSS quoted him as saying.

    He said Kapol got five litres of fuel for him to move the vehicle.

    Ademola said Kapol fled on sighting the RRS men, adding that he stayed back since his hands were clean.

    About 30 railings were removed from the Ijora Bridge.

    The railings, The Nation learnt, are used to keep the bridge from vibrating.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said a manhunt has begun for his colleague.

  • RRS men’s vigilance saves six-member family

    RRS men’s vigilance saves six-member family

    Were it not for their vigilance, some Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives would have mistaken six persons, including two children, for robbers and opened fire on them last Friday at Ogudu, Lagos.

    A woman, Lauretta Ehon, had run to the RRS operatives patrolling the axis around 5:30pm, telling them that some armed robbers just snatched her 2012 Toyota Camry marked EP 932 KRD. The RRS men swung into action, chasing the suspected robbers.

    During the chase, there was traffic and in order to catch up with the suspects, an officer, Christian Onawona, alighted from the RRS van and mounted a motor bike to continue the chase.

    When he caught up with the vehicle, he found that it was carrying six persons – three women, one man and two children – who were coming from a function.

    Their names were given as Sekinat Sanni, Wasiu Balogun, Bisola Balogun and Rukayat Joseph. The children were Sameer Balogun, one, and Motunrayo Joseph, two.

    Ehon was later arrested for raising the false alarm that endangered the lives of six persons.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said yesterday that the family were driving in their car when the woman alerted the RRS that they had snatched her vehicle.

    According to Badmos, the policemen chased the family to Ogudu Ori-Oke, where they stopped the vehicle.

    “There was a hectic traffic in the area but in order to catch up with the supposed thieves, the officer alighted from their official vehicle and mounted motor bike to chase the said robbers.

    “However, the family, which never knew they were being chased by the police, pulled up when they heard a gunshot fired into the air.

    “Then, the police cautiously approached the supposedly stolen vehicle only to discover that the occupants were three female, one male and two children, who were coming from a function,” Badmus said.

    She said the report turned out to be false.

    The police spokesperson said the officers found that the woman and the car owner transacted a business that failed.

    “What really transpired between the woman and the owner of the Camry car was a business transaction which occurred about six years ago.

    “The husband to the woman (Mr Ehon) who raised the false alarm and the owner of the car (Balogun) transacted a business which had to do with clearing of a second-hand car, which incurred demurrage at Apapa.

    “Unfortunately for the woman, the man who transacted the business with her husband was not in the car when she raised the false alarm, but his family members were,” she said.

    Badmus said the RRS men’s experience prevented what might have been unsavoury.

    The woman, she said, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

    One of the occupants of the car, Bisola Balogun, was full of praises for the officer, who pursued them for not misusing his firearm.

    “In fact, I am still in shock. If it were to be another police officer, it is possible that he might shoot our car and anything could have happened. We thank God and appreciate the officer for applying uncommon wisdom in handling the matter”, she said.

  • False alarm: Police avert killing of six persons

    False alarm: Police avert killing of six persons

    Six innocent people, including two children, escaped been shot as robbers by a police officer at Ogudu Ori-Oke, Ogudu, Lagos on Saturday following a false alarm by a woman.
    Police Inspector, Christian Onawona, attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command reportedly hesitated in shooting occupants of a car said to have been snatched when he reasoned they didn’t look like robbers.
    A statement by the police gave an account of how the shooting was averted.
    ” A woman, Lauretta Ehon, suddenly ran to inform RRS operatives patrolling the axis at about 17:30 hrs over the weekend, that some armed robbers just snatched her Toyota Camry car 2012. Immediately, the police officer followed her to give the supposed fleeing robbers a chase.
    “On the trail of the robbers, there was a hectic traffic but in order to catch up with the thieves, the officer alighted from his official vehicle and mounted a motor bike to chase the acclaimed reported robbers. However, the occupants of the car, which was being chased never had an inkling that they were on the verge of being mistook for robbery and that the police was trailing them.
    “In order to prevent the robbers from taking the vehicle with registration number, EP 932 KRD away, the officer shot into air. Upon hearing the gunshot fired by the officer, the driver of the vehicle applied the brake instantly. Then, the police officer cautiously approached the supposedly stolen vehicle only to discover that the occupants were three female, one male and two children. At this point, the police officer got to know that the complainant raised a false alarm.
    “The occupants of the vehicle were, Sekinat Sanni, Wasiu Balogun, Bisola Balogun and Rukayat Joseph. The little children were, Sameer Balogun and Motunrayo Joseph of one and two year old respectively, all family going on social outing.
    “The story later turned out to be faraway from the truth. What really transpired between the woman that raised false alarm and the owner of the 2012 Camry car was a mere business transaction which occurred about six years ago.
    “The husband to the woman who raised false alarm and the owner of the car transacted a business which had to do with clearing of Tokunbo car from oversea. Unfortunately, the vehicle went into demurrage after the client (Mr Ehon) paid the clearing agent, (Mr Balogun). And between the duo, they have settled the matter amicably for both of them worked in the same company in Apapa.
    “But to his paranoid wife, she had promised that she will collect the money from the clearing agent whenever she sets eyes on him. On the day of incident, the woman saw him and started threatening to snuff life out of him. But unknowingly to the woman, the man was not inside the car when she raised the false alarm but his family members were the occupants of the car.”
    In her reaction, one of the lucky occupants of the car, Bisola Balogun, who was visibly elated said that she was full of praises to the officer who pursued them for not have misused his firearm.
    “In fact, I am still at shock. If it were to be another police officer, it is possible that he might shoot our car and anything could have happened. We thank God and appreciate the officer for applying uncommon wisdom in handling the matter”, she added.
    According to the Police PPRO, Dolapo Badmos, the police officer showed experience and bravery in handling the issue, if not for him, the entire event could have turned against the police.
    The woman has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for prosecution.

  • RRS arrests Light up Lagos Project cable ‘thief’

    RRS arrests Light up Lagos Project cable ‘thief’

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly stealing a 35 meter-long armoured cable for the Light Up Lagos Project in Ogudu.

    Udeagwu, from Delta State, with two others, now at large, was seen on Saturday coming out of the bush around Ogudu Bus Stop by RRS operatives on routine surveillance at 3am carrying a big sack containing the armoured cable.

    RRS Monitor, led by Inspector Bello Kabir, on patrol of Oworoshoki Expressway inward Alapere said:  “We saw Lucky and two other guys carrying a big sack coming towards Ogudu Bus Stop. Because it was a straight road, we could see them from afar. They dropped the bag at the Bus Stop as they sighted RRS vehicle and ran in different directions but we caught Lucky. We were suspicious that what could make them run when they saw us must be something criminal. We checked the bag and we saw a 35-meter long armoured cable. Beside the bag was a camouflage cap.

    “On the spot, we searched him. We found in his small bag, a screw driver, 10 spanners and a T-shirt. The 10 spanner is the size of the bolts covering the street lights in this area.”

    RRS quoted Lucky as saying: “I got to Ogudu Bus Stop around 3am on Saturday. It is true those boys watched the express before dropping the sack containing the cable. I wanted to get to Ikorodu early so that I can get site job. I saw those two boys brought that bag from a nearby bus stop and as soon as they saw the police, they ran and I followed them. Those working tools in my bag are what I use to service my generator. I am not one of those boys.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said the suspect had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Ikeja.

  • RRS nab suspected fraudsters in Lagos

    RRS nab suspected fraudsters in Lagos

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad  (RRS) have arrested two members of an alleged fraudster syndicate who specialises in defrauding people along the Lekki-Epe expressway in Lagos.

    The suspects, Ojo Dauda, 30, and Segun Olatoye, 36, were nabbed Monday at about 1pm, around Ajah.

    Their arrest came four days after the duo allegedly swindled a certain Abayomi Ayoola, 28, of N45, 000.

    Unfortunately for the suspects, the victim sighted, recognised them Monday afternoon and informed RRS men who were on routine patrol.

    Reliving his ordeal, Ayoola said: “I dropped my boss’ wife in her shop at a plaza in New Road and she sent me to the bank to deposit some money. While coming from the bank, one of the suspects accosted and asked me if I know one man called Baba Ijebu and I told him no.

    “Suddenly, another guy met us at the same spot, whom I later got to know that they were working together. In fact, I don’t know how they took me to Alpha Beach, where my Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card was collected. They used the card to withdraw N15, 000 from my account.

    “Before then, they took the N30, 000 which I had on me, a Q10 Blackberry and a Nokia phone. They abandoned me there and fled.

    “Since then, I have kept a tab on them. When I saw them again at that same spot on Monday, I rushed quickly and called RRS operatives who are working within the axis, to assist me in arresting them. I thank God that they were eventually arrested.”

    Confessing to the crime, Dauda stated that he joined the illegal business after he was duped last November.

    He said: “In November 2015, while I was on my way home from work around Ikorodu, a guy later identified as Olaiya accosted me to ask for direction. After giving him the description of the area he asked for, he went further to cajole me to walk some miles with him.

    “Before I could gain my consciousness, I didn’t find my money on me any longer. I rushed down to the spot where I still found him but he said my money has been shared and cannot be refunded.

    “He now gave me an option to join them to dupe people in same manner I was duped. He told me I would realise N10, 000 per day, so I joined him in fraud business in order to support myself financially.

    “I have made a lot of money but I cannot say exactly how much I made because I don’t keep my money in the bank. I spent them on frivolous things.

    “My base is in Jakande, Lekki-Ajah Expressway while others position themselves around the axis and across the state. Every night, we all converge on Olaiya’s house (group leader) around Jakande where we share anything we realised for the day.”

    The other suspect Olatoye said he has realised over N200, 000 since he started two months ago.
    “I am a native of Ekiti State from Imoba Local Government Area (LGA) but I was born and bred in Lagos State. I was once a dry cleaner but left the job. I joined the syndicate about two months ago. To be truthful, on my own account, I have duped three people where I made N200, 000,” he explained.