The fleeing suspect is said to be part of six men
that collected an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card from an 18-year-old boy
at the Gowon Estate area of the metropolis, after he withdrew N10,000 for his
elder brother.
The fleeing suspect would have been lynched by angry
mob, but for the quick intervention of operatives of the Rapid Response Squad
(RRS).
As the suspect was running for his life, he sighted
the RRS men in their vehicle in traffic. He flung open their door without
invitation and jumped in. This move quickly halted the action of the crowd and
an armed policeman that was chasing him on a motorbike.
After driving for a while, the RRS men stopped and
handed him over to the policeman, who had continued to tail them.
The suspect was dragged to Domino Shopping Mall,
where two of his members held and beaten.
According to report, the suspect and five of his
gang members saw the teenage boy at the ATM gallery and talked him into
releasing the N10,000 with him and his elder brother’s ATM card.
They allegedly forced him to tell them the ATM
Personal Identification Number (PIN), thereafter; they allegedly locked the boy
in a yet to be disclosed location and went on a shopping spree.
After shopping at Iyano-Ipaja area, the six of them
went to the Domino Shopping Mall, where each picked the largest sized basket.
It was when they started paying for the goods, that the owner of the ATM card
started receiving series debit alerts. The alert was coming from the popular
Domino shopping Mall. He charted a motorbike and raced to the place. He raised
the alarm. The police at the scene were alerted and moved into the mall.
The thieves, suspecting police were onto them,
scampered in different directions. One of them was chased through moving traffic
before his eventual arrest.
According to eye witnesses, three were arrested,
while three escaped. Passersby and customers were alleged to have given the two
suspects the beaten of their lives before the arrival of the police with the
fleeing suspect.
Confirming the arrest of the three suspects, the
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti, said that the
suspects were already in police custody.
Oti disclosed that the suspects would have escaped,
if not for the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi’s standing
instructions to all police stations that communities should be patrol 24 hours,
especially shopping malls and recreational centres.
He further said: “We have a standing order from the
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, that every station should be
at alert and every community, eateries, malls and relaxation centres should be
especially monitored. When the suspects attempted to escape, policemen were not
too far. Our policemen chased one of the suspects through moving traffic and
arrested him.
The
Divisional Police Officer (DPO), also raced to the scene with his men, leading
to further arrest of two others. The DPO and his men also saved the two
suspects from being lynched.”
Recounting how the suspects hoodwinked the teenager
into parting with his elder brother’s ATM Card, Oti said: “The young boy was
not abducted or locked up as people claimed. He is just an 18-year-old boy. His
elder brother sent to go and withdrew N10, 000 for him at the ATM. He had already
withdrawn the money before the suspects accosted and brainwashed him, after
introducing themselves as spiritual men. They brainwashed him and collected the
N10, 000 from him and the ATM card. They gave him money from the N10, 000 to go
and buy salt for some spiritual works, which they wanted to do for him.
Immediately he left, they went on a shopping spree. It was while they were
shopping that the elder brother received series of debit alerts and became alarmed.
He raced to the shopping mall and approached the manager. The DPO was alerted.
We thank God for the vision and strategy of our CP.”
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