Lagos police smash cross-border armed gang

The police command in Lagos yesterday said it has smashed a four-man cross-border armed gang that specialised in snatching exotic cars from Nigeria and taking them  to Benin Republic where they sold them.  The police also said that the suspects, who are mostly citizens of the Republic of Benin, targeted owners of Prado and Lexus […]

The police command in Lagos yesterday said it has smashed a four-man cross-border armed gang that specialised in snatching exotic cars from Nigeria and taking them  to Benin Republic where they sold them. 

The police also said that the suspects, who are mostly citizens of the Republic of Benin, targeted owners of Prado and Lexus Jeeps in Lagos and Abuja.

Those arrested were identified as Ajagba Hamees a.k.a John T, 30; Toninju Potel, alias Popo, 35; Botan Remmy, 30; and Rasheed Akinola, 32.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, at a press conference held at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, narrated how the gang allegedly snatched a victim’s car at gun-point, saying the victim had gone to use an ATM when his Toyota Prado jeep was taken. 

“On January 20, 2018 at Ajose Adeogun, Victoria Island, Lagos, one Olayinka Oyebola, owner of a Toyota Prado jeep went to use a Zenith Bank ATM. After using the ATM, before he could drive off, the three hoodlums, who had been stalking him, forced him out of the car to the back seat and drove him off with him in the car. He was later stripped naked and dropped somewhere at Ikoyi, while his car was driven away with mobile phones, a laptop and N45,000 cash. “When the hoodlums got to Ikoyi, they sighted a couple in a Toyotajeep buying barbecue near the Southern Sun Hotel. The hoodlums forcefully took control of the car and drove the victims away. The victims’ wife was later dropped at a junction before the Third Mainland Bridge, while the husband was dropped on the Third Mainland Bridge.”

“After a careful analysis and an undercover operation on February 11, 2018, the group was intercepted at Mile 2 while on a mission. An AK-47 rifle, 43 AK-49 ammunitions, one locally-made cut-to-size double barrel, six live cartridges, one licensed plate number and assorted charms were recovered from the hoodlums,” Edgal said