Police parade indecently-dressed officers

… And suspected extortionists, kidnappers of Ikorodu School girls

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and dismissed five policemen for various offences ranging from extortion and other allied crimes. The command also paraded suspected kidnappers of three schoolgirls of the Babington Macaulay Memorial Seminary in Ikorodu, who were at large.

The suspected police extortionists are Samuel Ando, Richard Ugwu, Daniel Osaimayu, Sergeant Sulaiman Muhammed, and Corporal Michael Adeoya. It was gathered that Daniel Osaimayu, attached to the Lagos State Task Force, was arrested and dismissed for extorting N50,000 from motorists.

Speaking to newsmen, Osaimayu, a sergeant, said:
“I was at my duty in Oshodi when X-squad officials of the command arrested me. That was yesterday around 10.00a.m. A guy was arrested and during a search, the money was found on him. The suspect confessed and pointed at me that I sent him.

“After I was arrested, I was brought to the X-squad office in Ikeja. They searched me, but no money was found on me. The Commissioner of Police should please reconsider me. I have a family I cater for.”

Another arrested cop, Adeoya, said: “I was coming down from a tricycle popularly called Keke Marwa when I was arrested by the X-quad officers at Mile 12 Market on Monday. I am an orderly to an APC chairman at Kosofe Local Council. I went to the market to buy food for my chickens, which I rear at home.

“I was surprised when I was arrested. After I was interrogated, I was told by the police at the squad that I was arrested for improper dressing. Now there is nobody to feed my chickens. They would have all died. I wore slippers because of the wounds I have on my leg. I am not into extortion.”

According to another suspect, Sulaiman, “I was attached to Idimu Police Division; I was on a night duty at a politician’s house called Oladun House, when I had an asthmatic attack, but I was able to manage with my inhaler. Someone now gave me a ride from Idimu. I was coming to the office when they arrested me for improper dressing. I am not into extortion.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters, said one Ando, who was dismissed for extortion from Oyo State Command was arrested for similar crime in Lagos.

He said: “Some of the policemen who were bent on tarnishing the image of the police will be shown the way out of the service. They were arrested for mounting roadblock, which contravened the Inspector General of Police directives on roadblock across the country.

“We are doing this to serve as a lesson to other police officers to desist from the act and expose those who are bent on disgracing the police. Any policeman that falls short of police regulations would be fired.”

The command also paraded 38-year-old Felix Silver, who is said to be one of the kingpins in the kidnap of the three students from Babington Macaulay Seminary School at Ikorodu.

According to Owoseni, the Edo State indigene, Felix is the leader of the armed robbery and kidnapping gang operating in Ikorodu, Epe and Ibafo axis in Ogun State. He was arrested last week. This man was also responsible for the kidnap of the rescued Chinese man within the Ajah axis three weeks ago.”