The Lagos State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has ordered that two policemen, a sergeant and an
inspector, be detained for sleeping on duty and losing their rifles to armed
robbers.
The two policemen, who were attached
to a biscuit company at Apapa, were attacked at the company’s premise, while
sleeping. The robbers, after beating the policemen black and blue, left with
their service rifles. The attack on the company would be the second.
The robbers, who attacked the
policemen with an iron rod, also beat up the company’s private security guards and
driver. The incident happened on March 30.
When our correspondent visited the biscuit
company, residents in the area explained that the robbers got into the company’s
premises through the waterway. They came in a speed boat. They arrived around
10pm and started shooting sporadically.
Some of the workers, who were on
night duty, hurriedly left what they were doing and scampered for safety as
bullets begin to fly.
The robbers, who were fully armed,
positioned themselves in different locations within the company. The guards
were said to have been tied to a pole and given a severe beating.
A lotto agent, who simply identified
himself as Abiodun said: “The last time robbers came to the company, they
carted away money, phones and laptops. When the robbers came on that Thursday,
they started shooting right from the shore. Their gunshot lasted for minutes
before they gained access into company.
“It was after the robbers had left
that we saw the two policemen being led out of the company premises by some
workers. The policemen had serious injuries all over their bodies. We learnt
that the robbers disarmed the policemen and went away with their service
rifles.”
Abiodun continued: “The two mobile
policemen were battling to stay alive. My suggestion to the police authority is
to patrol waterways in Lagos, in order to prevent further robberies.”
A worker in the company, who refused
to disclose his name, said: “The robbery was a bad experience for many of us. When
we heard the gunshots, we thought it was the normal gunshots that we used to
hear around here. It not until we saw the gunmen inside our company, shooting like
they were in an American movie, that we became alarmed. They ordered everybody
to lay face-down. They demanded for the days’ sales. They collected our phones
and laptops. It was from where I was lying on the ground, that I noticed two
among the robbers dragging a bag to the riverside. Those in the boat shouted at
the ones dragging the bag to hurry. After the operation, they told the
policemen, never to attempt to stop their operation when next they come to the
company. They threatened to kill anyone who tries to stop them next time they
come to the company.”
A source said: “The robbery happened
at a biscuit company located at Apapa. A sergeant and an inspector, attached to
the Special Protection Unit (SPU), were attacked by armed robbers while they
were sleeping. The policemen normally do escort duty for the company. They used
to escort expatriates working with the company. When the policemen and company
driver returned that fateful day, it was late and they were tired. They told
themselves that they needed a rest. They have a room where they used to rest in
the company. The driver, who used to take them around during escort duty, also
went to sleep with them. In the night, armed robbers came through water. The
robbers found the policemen sleeping. They collected their rifles and gave them
severe beatings, including the driver. They tied the private security guards of
the company and locked the policemen in a room. They left with the police
rifles. The two policemen were later detained by police command. The policemen
were beaten with an iron rod. The company was robbed.”
Determined to catch the robbers,
detectives from Lagos State Police Headquarters, went to Apapa and embarked on
intense investigation.
A few days later, the rifles were
recovered and four suspects arrested.
A police source said that detectives trailed the
suspects to their various hideouts. One suspect was first arrested and used as
a bait to catch others.
The police source said: “ The suspects hid the
police rifles in the creeks; between Lagos and Ogun states.”
Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police
Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous Cole, stated that
investigation is ongoing.
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