Mob beats up fake policemen in Lagos

Three fake policemen escaped death in Lagos last week as they were almost lynched by a mob which descended on them for allegedly selling off some commercial motorcycles (popularly called ‘okada’) that they seized from their owners. The suspects simply identified as Allison, Wilson and Aboki were accosted by some commercial motorcycle operators along Buknor […]

Three fake policemen escaped death in Lagos last week as they were almost lynched by a mob which descended on them for allegedly selling off some commercial motorcycles (popularly called ‘okada’) that they seized from their owners.
The suspects simply identified as Allison, Wilson and Aboki were accosted by some commercial motorcycle operators along Buknor road, Ikotun and accused of the alleged offence. They were then beaten mercilessly by the ‘okada’ riders and a mob that had gathered.
 Though, Wilson and Aboki later escaped from the mob but Allison was handed over to policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).
 In his confessional statement to the police, Alison admitted belonging to a three-man gang that specialised in dispossessing ‘okada’ riders of their motorcycles.
 He said that the gang members usually dressed like police and military men in order to impound motorcycles from their owners and later resell the impounded vehicles to other people.
Allison, 31, who hails from Idda Local Government in Kogi State, said that the syndicate which comprised himself, Wilson and Aboki, had impounded about 10 motorcycles from riders in Ejigbo and Ikotun areas of Lagos, which were later resold.
 He added that the gang usually operated within the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
“We normally meet in Isheri Junction but for the last operation, Wilson told me to meet him at Bucknor. Wilson dressed like a soldier. He wore military polo, long sleeves with camouflage trousers and black shoes. Aboki wore black pullover with black trousers and shoes.
 “I was co-opted into the team two weeks ago. Then, I was riding my okada when I was arrested at Bucknor by Wilson and Aboki on that fateful day at about 10:00 p.m. They said I took restricted road. I pleaded with them to let me go but they told me that I was going to take them somewhere.
 “I took them to Ejigbo, where a boy was arrested. I helped them to arrest the boy and we took his okada. I don’t know what they did with the okada but the following day, they called me and offered me N10,000.
 “Since I joined them two weeks ago, we have collected more than seven okada. I don’t participate in the reselling, so I don’t know how they resell them and who they sell them to. We pretend as policemen and seize motor cycles from riders. Sometimes, we negotiate and collect money but mostly we collect the motor cycles especially if it is new because that is our target.
 “The okada that I am using was bought on hire
purchase. It was given to me for
N180,000 but I have only paid N90,000. We were on operation to seize another motor cycle when we were surrounded by the mob and almost lynched. I was arrested while Wilson and Aboki managed to escape.
“I have taken RRS detectives to the residence of Wilson and Aboki because they live together, unfortunately, we didn’t meet them at home. How I wish, we had met them to corroborate my statement,” he said.
 Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest of Allison, adding that he had been transferred to the Police Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.