The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a notorious syndicate, which specialized in stealing and vandalizing government property.
Operatives of the Command, on January 11, intercepted five male suspects in possession of Nitel cables at Fatai
Atere Street, Mushin area of Lagos State.
The suspects have been identified as Muhammad Rabiu 41, Musiliu Ayinde 35, Musa Ibrahim 32, Sheriff Usman 22 and David Opeko 28.
According to a police source, the arrest of the suspects was possible due to information given to them by members of the community.
When police raced to the scene, they allegedly caught the suspects red handed, cutting the cables, which were buried underground. They were immediately arrested.
Items recovered them are an unregistered truck containing 15 long pieces of Nitel cables, a mercury space wagon vehicle with registration number RHX686AJ containing two heavy duty batteries and three Jack chains.
The suspects reportedly confessed that they were syndicate and specialized in vandalizing Nitel and electricity company cables. They were also in the business of stealing cables. They also admitted to operate in Lagos and Ogun states.
One of the suspects, Musiliu Ayinde, whom police claimed to be the leader of the syndicate, was arrested with his gang member in the Mushin area of the metropolis.
Ayinde, residing at Apapa area of the metropolis, is married with two children.
He said: “I was introduced into this business by a friend of mine in 2013. My friend used to work in the defunct PHCN as security guard. Since I joined the crime, I had never looked back. I introduced Musa Ibrahim into the business and he later introduced the rest, and since then, we had carried out a lot of operations. Our target is usually the Nitel cables, the defunct PHCN cables or car batteries. Sometimes, we vandalize government property like street lights, mounted along roads in a bid to steal cables.
“I used to be a cart pusher at Mushin Market before I was introduced to the business .I regrets my actions. I wish I can change the hands of time.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Edgal Imohimi said the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations had been concluded. He urged Lagos citizens to be vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious acts. He said that this would aid policemen in their promise to turn Lagos State into a city devoid of crimes.
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