Two Policemen, Others Arrested in Connection with Lagos Robberies

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two policemen as well as two others in connection with the robberies in the state on September 9, 2012 which left at least three policemen killed.

Greenwich News learnt that the policemen arrested are currently being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad at the command headquarters.

A reliable police source, who craved anonymity, said the suspects were arrested over the weekend.

The robberies which took place in various parts of the state such as Ojodu, Gbagada, Agege, Anthony, Ikeja and Surulere, were said to have been successful due to the connivance of the policemen

The source said, “If you recall, the robbers operated with such expertise that it easily became suspicious that some security agents may have aided them.

“Investigations are ongoing but we have reason to believe that the robbers who operated on the said date do not all belong to the same gang.”

The other two suspects arrested, Rasheed Sulaimon and Kazeem Enifolabi, however said they did not belong to the gang but knew about the robbery operations.

Sulaimon said, “Last Monday, my friend Yemi, told me that he carried out robbery operations in various parts of the state. He said he and his gang killed many policemen and although I didn’t go with him, he gave me N3,000 recharge card.”

When asked how many the robbers were in number as well as their modus operandi, he said, “The robbers were about 10 and a woman was among them. Sometimes they use soldier’s or other uniforms to operate.”

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said investigations were ongoing. She however did not say how the suspects were arrested. Braide also did not confirm if policemen were among those arrested.

She said, “On September 12, 2012, at about 10pm, based on a tip-off received by SARS, policemen swung into action where Sulaimon was arrested at Dopemu area and he led detectives to one Kazeem Enifolabi also known as Oshomo at Oshodi. Both confessed to know the members of the gang of armed robbers that operated in the state where many people were killed.

“The prime suspects fled to Benin Republic and Kwara State to escape arrest. Sulaimon took SARS detectives to Wahabi Street, Agege, where the gang member’s vehicle, a Honda Civic, along with two AK-47 rifles and four magazines were hidden inside it.”

Braide said the robbers were able to escape because the police did not want to engage them in a shoot-out which would have caused the death of innocent bystanders.