Police arrest 23 suspected robbers, nine rapists in 10 days

The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested 23 suspected armed robbers and rape suspects within 10 days.Among the suspects arrested between September 15 and 28 were two policemen, a fake policeman and a dismissed Lagos State Traffic Management (LATSMA) personnel.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the state command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni who paraded the suspects yesterday in Ikeja, said nine suspected rapists, including a father, who defiled his 15-year-old daughter, were among the suspects.

He said 23 armed robbery suspects were also arrested and three locally-made pistols, five live cartridges and a Bereta pistol recovered from them. According to Owoseni, a Toyota Siena 17 mobile phones and an iron rod were also recovered from them.

He said:” Three policemen were among the suspects arrested. They are going to face Orderly Room trial. They were arrested for allegedly extorting N350, 000 from a member of the public. They would stop unsuspecting victims, search their phones and laptops, pretending to be looking for advance fee fraudsters.

“Also in our detention is a man, who impersonated a police officer and a dismissed LATSMA officer .The suspects are being interrogated for impersonating policemen and extorting members of the public.

“Also in our net is a lady, who organised the kidnap of her niece. The woman kidnapped her sister’s child and started demanding for ransom. She was picked up in Ogun State.

The CP advised people living within border towns not to panic as the command has put in place security measures to check the activities of criminals operating within the creeks. 

He appealed to residents to support the police by providing them with information that would assist the police in their war against crime and criminality.

One of the suspects, Tony, who allegedly defiled his daughter, said:” I didn’t know what came over me. I was drunk one day, when I came back home, something bigger than me came over me and pushed me to sleep with her. I did it two times, but that second one was while I was even playing with my wife when the spirit came over me again and I abandoned my wife and went into my daughter. I slept with her, but after sleeping with her, my eyes cleared and I became normal.

“This is abomination in my place. I am finished. The devil pushed me to commit the act. I am begging for forgiveness, but whatever that will befall me, let it happen, death is better for me.”