The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP. Adetayo Akerele, says its operatives have apprehended four suspected traffic robbers who specialise in robbing motorists of their belongings during traffic gridlocks at rush hour.
Akerele confirmed this in a statement signed by the agency’s Director, Press and Public Affairs, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on Thursday in Lagos.
He identified the suspects to include Ismail Akinlade, 26; Rasak Abiodun, 25; Adefabi Gbolahan, 25; and Rilwan Olaloye, 20.
He said that the suspects were apprehended in the Mushin area of the state after a series of investigations led officers to their hideout.
The agency boss said that the Taskforce had been monitoring miscreants who operate in specific areas of the state to perpetrate their crimes.
“These individuals reportedly target distracted motorists, stealing phones, bags, and other valuables from vehicles while distracting the occupants,” he said.
According to him, one of the suspects, Akinlade confesses that they usually give the phones to their Number One (now at large), who handles selling the loot, after which they return for the cash proceeds, which they spend on drugs and gambling.
He said that Akinlade also revealed that they exploit bad portions of roads to carry out their attacks, preying on motorists who are forced to slow down due to poor road conditions, ” he said.
The chairman stated that following a series of manhunts and intelligence gathering, officers of the agency traced a stolen phone to the Idi-Oro axis in Mushin, where the suspects were apprehended.
“They have all been interrogated and will be charged to court immediately,” he said.
He warned others still engaging in such crimes in traffic to desist immediately or risk the same fate as the detailed four suspects.
