Police arrest grandmother, 39 others for kidnapping, robbery

• Recover human hands, cars, drugs

Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, paraded a grandmother and 39 other suspects, for armed robbery, kidnapping, conspiracy, cultism, stealing, and possession of hard drugs.

The aged woman, arrested for receiving stolen goods from suspects, were paraded alongside others at the Officers Mess, Ikeja, Lagos.

Parading the suspects, spokesperson for the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspects confessed to being active members of Aiye Confraternity, and also involved in the killing of rival cult group members and innocent residents during cult related clashes.

Hundeyin said eight arms, 16 live ammunition, seven cars, one motorcycle, two axes, nine generators, seven TVs, two grinding machine, two knives, one home theatre, 27 phones, hard drugs and decomposing human hands were recovered from the suspects.

He said: “In the case of conspiracy and armed robbery on April 16, 2023, an Uber driver was robbed of his vehicle at gunpoint by one of his passengers.

“While the driver courageously grabbed and held onto one of the suspects, a 44-year-old man, Adesiji Oluwatobi and 26-year-old Oluwafemi Osoja went away with the vehicle. Further investigation led to the arrest of Osoja in his hideout and one locally made pistol with five live cartridges was recovered from him.

“On May 5, 2023, a group of boys suspected to be cultists brandishing arms to attack rival cult members in the Ikorodu area of the state were arrested and 28-year-old Ridwan Akibu; 22-year-old Farouk Kareem and 30-year-old Damilare Ige were nabbed.

Also paraded were 33-year-old Shokki Ebis aka Nero arrested with one locally made Dane gun and one live cartridge, on May 10, 2023, in Orioke Area of Ajegunle, Ikorodu.

The suspect confessed to being a member of a kidnapping syndicate terrorising Ikorodu and Redeem Christian Church of God in Ogijo area of Ogun State.

28-year-old Saobanor Adesina; 23-year-old Boluwatife Oluwapelumi and 20-year-old Idowu Oluwapelumi, who attacked residents of Jokogbola Estate, Agbede Ikorodu, Lagos State, and carted away motorcycle, electronic, jewelries, laptop, nine cell phones and case, iPhone 11 pro max, iPhone 7 and two Samsung A02S on March 7, 2023, were also paraded with the recovered items.

Also, paraded were 32-year-old Monday Alfred and 34-year-old Laitan Apanpa aka Emir who were caught with human parts.

The suspects were on motorcycle with registration number JGB 276 VU, when officers on patrol intercepted them.

Upon searching, two decomposing human hands, one Techno and one Vivo phones were found in their possession. While Laitan was able to escape initially, operatives of the command located him at his hideout at Ibode area of Ikorodu, where he was subsequently arrested.

“Investigation revealed that both suspects are members of Aiye Confraternity, while Laitan, was a murder suspect detained at Ikeja, who escaped from cell during #EndSARS in 2020,” Hundeyin said.

Also, the state’s Commissioner of Police (CP), Idowu Owohunwa, has assured Lagosians that the Command would do everything operationally possible to ensure that crime and criminality is brought to the barest minimum in the state.

Meanwhile, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Igando Division, Ekeinde Ohiomoba; Head of Operatios, Igando Police Station, Usman Nureni, Mpi Francis, Olukayode Benson, Stephen Inumama, Owoju David, Martin Akwa and Bright Ogbeide, were also rewarded for their exceptional service to the Nigeria Police.

The CP described the men as a good example every officer must emulate.

Speaking on what it means to be honoured, Ohiomoba, said: “My men and I are very happy to be called for recognition; this is the first time of seeing a CP giving us such an award and giving money, it’s a morale booster.

“I advise other officers to emulate us to be recognised.”