Aside from denying the allegation of being thieves, some of them claimed they were only presented to the media because they allegedly couldn’t cough up N3000 bail. It’s now their words against those of the detectives that arrested them.
It appears only the law court can settle the matter. One of the suspects fanning the ember of controversy is Fatai Suleiman. According to him, it was his first day in Lagos State. He came to tell his elder brother that his wife had just put to bed when policemen grabbed and labeled him a thief. Suleiman, who said he repairs wrist watches, further explained: “I have never been to Lagos until the day I was arrested.
I came to inform my elder brother that my wife has just given birth. I stopped to eat somewhere. I was coming out from where I went to eat, when policemen grabbed and bundled me into their van with some people. They brought us to their station.” The police said the suspects specialised in snatching people’s handbags, while on motorbikes. They also allegedly used to target people coming out from banking halls.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said: “We have been receiving series of complaints from victims. They said their property got snatched while they were coming out from banks by criminals on motorbikes. “Police officers have been working round the clock to ensure that they get these criminals who carry out these immoral acts. God has crowned the efforts of police officers.
We have arrested a total of 17 criminals, who specialised in robbing people of their properties. Some of these criminals were arrested at Egbeda, Lekki, Ajah and Festac areas. Some of the items recovered from them are female handbags, different A.T.M cards, different identity cards and razor blades.”
One of those arrested, Monday Joseph, 25, who said he had no source of livelihood, said: “I know nothing about this crime. True, I used to snatch handbags, but on the particular day that police arrested me, I didn’t snatch any handbag. I used to snatch handbags with three other friends.
I started snatching handbags about two months ago. I have made nothing less than N53, 000 since I started snatching handbags. One Orobo introduced me to this business. He ran away after I was arrested. We also used to steal from cars that are parked. We force open their windows and steal from inside.”
Yusuf Lukman, 20, said: “My friend, Akeem, got me into this trouble. On that fateful day, I was sick, sleeping in my area when Akeem came to give me A.T.M cards. I asked him where he got the cards, he ignored me and left. I was arrested at Jakande, Lekki area, alongside Akeem. But because Akeem had N3, 500 to bail himself, the policeman, who arrested us, freed him and took me to their station. I didn’t have money to give him.”
Nurudeen Abiodun, 23, an electrician, said: “I was at a sports betting shop, watching a football match when policemen came there. They said they were looking for people, who used to snatch bags. The policemen didn’t allow us to say anything; some people who had money on them bribed the policemen. They arrested those of us that didn’t have money to bail ourselves. They took us to their station.”https://newtelegraphonline.com/controversy-police-parade-17-handbag-snatchers/
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