Lagoon: N90,000:00 Debt Forces Uber Driver Into Suicide Attempt

A Uber driver, identified as Hammed Olojo, 31 was on Sunday afternoon restrained by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad on patrol of Third Mainland Bridge from jumping into the Lagoon.

Olojo, who drove himself to the Third mainland Bridge in a Uber Toyota Corolla saloon car had written a short note and left it in the car when he was retrained by the officers who monitored him a while before walking up to him.

Olojo, an ex-convict, drove the grey Corolla with the registration number EKY 312 ES belonging to Kalejaiye Oluwaseyi to the bridge before attempting to leap into the Lagoon.

Questioned by RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu on why he contemplated suicide, Olojo explained that he was owing N10,000 in Court 3, Ikeja High Court and the owner of the vehicle N80,000:00.

He stated that things have been difficult for him and that he had tried all possible means to survive with no success.

Olojo disclosed that his wife persuaded him from going ahead with his plan but his mind was made up and was fed up of everything.

Olojo, had planned to leave behind a short note in Yoruba and translated into English in the car before leaping into the Lagos Lagoon.

The letter read in part “I killed myself because of the challenges I have been facing in life. I tried my best and everything has come to nothing”.

He also added in the letter that he was owing a creditor N10,000 in Court 3 of Ikeja High Court and N80,000 for the owner of the UBER car he was driving.

Kalejaiye who was at RRS office in company of his wife noted that for two weeks, he had not remitted N40,000 per week lease to him yet and he Kalejaiye, has been paying for the service of the car.

He noted that although, he told him to hand over the car last Thursday, at no time did he force him not to drive the car.

He noted that he was aware that he had a court case, at no time did he put him under pressure about the car.

In the note which was dated 27th August, 2017 and signed by him, Olojo indicated his phone number and the car owner’s number.

Confirming the development, Police PRO, ASP Olarinde Famous Cole stated that the case had been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

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RRS Busts Two Fraud Syndicates

The operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested four members of two fraud syndicates operating in Ikeja, Maryland, Ojodu-Berger, Agege and Oshodi parts of the metropolis.

The members of the syndicates, three male and a female were arrested in two separate cases of fraud on Thursday and Saturday in Ikeja and Oshodi.

The first group, comprising of Chinasa Sunday, 44 and Osadebe Aigbe 30, were arrested in Ikeja after several days of being under the surveillance of RRS Undercover team for defrauding a lady of the sum of N85,000.00.

Their victim, Grace Enitan, had reported at the RRS Headquarters that a syndicate of four men picked her up in a taxi and duped her of N85,000.00 while she was heading to Ikeja.

Investigations revealed that Chinasa Sunday and Osadebe Aigbe were involved in the scam while their ring-leader, identified as Martin is on the run.

The victim In their confessional statement  to the Decoy team of  RRS headquarters after their arrest identified the two suspects and their respective roles in the scam.

Chinasa while pleading for leniency explained that he joined the syndicate after losing his job in February, 2017. He explained that they picked up the suspect in Olowopopo Way, Ikeja, adding that her role was to monitor their victims while the scam lasted.

The second syndicate members were arrested yesterday after a failed bid to swindle a food seller of over N120,000 and dispossess her of her jewelry in Oshodi.

The victim, identified as Rukayat Aderinwale was accosted and hypnotised by a syndicate of five members before dispossessing her of a purse containing N120,000.00 and her mobile phone.

They were leading her away to another location when the lady regained her consciousness and called out to RRS officers stationed nearby.

The officer arrested one Sunday Atanda, 56, living in 13, Pero Street, Agege and a 58 year old Fausat Tijani, a pure water seller in Akala, Mushin, while three other members of the syndicate escaped.

In his confession to the police, Atanda gave the names of other syndicate members as Kayode, Shina and Lateef. He added that the syndicate only operated on the road.

He stressed that what they wanted to achieve was to dispossess the mother of three of her money, phone and jewel. He maintained that he joined the team to raise money to feed his family.

He disclosed that the team operated in Agege and Oshodi, adding that Lateef is their ring-leader and he dictated when and where the syndicate would operate every day.

Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said that the command is reinvigorated to make Lagos inhabitable for criminals.

He added that investigation is on-going to arrest other syndicate members.

LADY DISAPPEARS WITH PARTNER'S N7M

Operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad have arrested one Gladys Assah-Asor for allegedly defrauding her business partner, Nkiruka Okon, of N7 million.

The 35 year old graduate, a single mother from Cross-River State, lives at 33b Silifatu Abioye Street, Ogba, Oke-Ira. She works as a network marketer for a popular product based in Ikeja.

The suspect confessed to the crime during an interrogation by the RRS Decoy Team after her friend and business partner, Nkiruka Okon, made a report of fraud against the suspect before her arrest.

Gladys in her words said, 'I met Okon in Port-Harcourt in 2008 where she works as a banker with a commercial bank. We were just friends as at then... But later in 2015, I marketed a product to her called Healthy Halogen Oven, a product imported into Nigeria by a networking marketing company called Avenues to Wealth."

"As a network marketer and a partner to the company, my duty is to bring potential customers and partners into the business for a win-win profit making both for the customer and myself... I told Okon about the Healthy Oven which was one of the products of Avenues to Wealth sold for N12,000 at company price.... We agreed to partner in buying large quantity of the product, myself and Okon would put together the financial capital while I do the marketing and transportation of the product to the customers," she added.

Nkiruka in her words said “ I got interested in the healthy oven marketing business and decided to go into partnership with Gladys, whom I have known since when I was residing in Port-Harcourt.... We agreed to buy about 410 units of the oven from the company where one sells for N12,000n and agreed to sell at the rate of N20,000.... I made a deposit of N4,500,000 to Gladys account on the agreement that after sales I would be collecting back N7.5m plus the profit  but she refused to stick to the plans as agreed in our memorandum of understanding."

"After I contacted her for my money, she refused to pick my calls and absconded for over one year. Then, I realised I have been duped by the person I thought was my business partner.... All effort I made to persuade Gladys to pay my money proved abortive as she continued to give me one excuse or the other.... During one of our confrontations in 2016, Gladys issued me a dud cheque  of N3m, N2m and another N2m making N7m in total but the bank told me the cheques were not payable," Okon stated.

Meanwhile, it was discovered in the course of investigations that Gladys also duped another lady who investigators declined to reveal her identity. She confessed to have duped the lady to the tune of N1.8m in a car purchase deal she brokered.

Gladys in her words confessed to have linked the lady to an auto dealer from whom her sister wanted to purchase a Toyota 4 wheel drive worth N3m. She had convinced the lady to pay for the vehicle in installment.

She confessed to have collected the first tranche of N1.8m on behalf of the auto dealer. The bubble burst  when the lady demanded for a refund and that she was no longer interested in the deal upon realising that Gladys was up to some games.

She disclosed to investigators to have used proceeds from the second fraud to open a catering shop business, bought car, travelled out on vacations and got a suitable apartment for her family.

Confirming the development, the Police PRO, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole stated that the case has been trabsferred to the SCID, Panti for further  investigations and prosecution.

RRS Nab Notorious 20 Year-Old Armed Robbery Suspect

A 20-year-old notorious armed robbery suspect, Ahmed Lateef, who has been on the wanted list of the Lagos State Police Command, was on Saturday morning arrested in Oshodi by men of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad, RRS, while returning from an all-night robbery operation in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Ahmed Lateef, a.k.a ‘Ajona’ who has been on the Police wanted list since April, 2017, for a robbery operation in Ejigbo area of Lagos, where two motorcycles and other personal effects were stolen by him and his gang, confessed to have participated in countless robbery operations in Lagos, Oyo and Ogun States. The suspect who is from Oshogbo, Osun State also added that he participates in two robbery operations twice a week in company of Enu-Ose, his other gang member.

Lateef, who is also an ex-convict disclosed that they went to Kuto area of Abeokuta, Ogun state to burgle a computer and phone retail outlet. He was arrested with a motorbike carrying the registration number of OGUN: MEK 339 WM, which he also confessed to have been stolen in Kuto, Abeokuta.

Lateef revealed that Enu-Ose, a member of his gang who is an indigene of Abeokuta, provided information to the gang about the computer dealing outlet and he also led three other suspects to the Ejigbo robbery, where they carted away two tricycles and two motorcycles amongst other personal effects.

When further quizzed, the 20-year-old suspect stated that for every stolen item such as jewelries, phones, motorcycles and latptos; there is always a ready buyer and that his robbery gangs usually hire metal cutters in Mushin for N10,000 per operation.

While pleading for mercy, he listed other gang members as Noah, Segun, Lekan, Ishan-Idi, Rilwan, Shile, Ege and Jandor while two of his gang members, Seyi Adebayo (26) and Saheed Funsho (23) alongside two receivers of stolen items have been moved to Lagos State Taskforce for prosecution.

Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, stated that the Command would not relent on its efforts to ensure that Lagos is not a safe haven for criminals.

Lagos CP Warn Lagosians Against Jungle Justice

PRESS RELEASE 11/08/2017

In the past few days, the Lagos State Police Command has recorded some incidents of jungle justice across the State.

2.            Recent cases are:

·         The incident of 8th August, 2017 at Ajala Bus-Stop, Ijaiye-Ojokoro where two (2) persons suspected to be Kidnapers/Ritualists were completely burnt, while some buildings were vandalized.

·         The incident of 10th August, 2017 at Ile-Zik Bus Stop, along Old Abeokuta Road, where mob attempted to carry out jungle justice on some destitute, suspected to be Ritualists/Kidnappers. This was prevented by quick intervention of the Police and Sister Security Agencies.

·         The incident of 11th August, 2017, where a destitute who appeared to be mentally deranged was set ablaze by mob on the allegation that he possessed a telephone.

3.            It is necessary to mention that in the course of the disdainful acts, vital evidence are destroyed. In addition, in the course of discharging its Constitutional responsibilities and prevent the barbaric act, Police officers were fatally wounded, while stones were hurled at them as well as Police Patrol Vans. However, a number of arrests were made in this regard.

4.            The foregoing has made it imperative that the general public be reminded of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended which states thus:

·         “It shall be the duty of every citizen to respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of others and live in unity and harmony and in the spirit of common brotherhood”

·         “No person shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment”

5.            There is no justification for jungle justice on suspected persons. It is barbaric and uncivilized. It is a manifestation of the erosion of our moral values and a disregard to sanctity of human lives. It violates the rule of law and dents the image of the State. Above all, it is a violation of the law, and all those arrested in connection with the aforementioned cases will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

6.            The General public is advised to report any suspicious happening in their areas to the Police and other Security Agencies. The public is assured of the renewed commitment of the Police and other Security Agencies to prompt response to such reports. The public is also assured of renewed synergy amongst the institutions saddled with criminal justice administration towards ensuring quick dispensation of justice.

7.            The general public is therefore, strongly advised to desist from this unlawful and barbaric act. No effort will be spared in ensuring that lawful means are used to bring to justice, anyone who violates the law, please.

CP FATAI A. OWOSENI,

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,

LAGOS STATE COMMAND,

IKEJA.

RRS Recovers AK-47 Nabs Robber

The operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command yesterday recovered an AK-47 assault rifle from three young men in Apapa Area of Lagos State just as it arrested a 23-year old bag snatcher on Friday in Alagbado during a botch operation.

The operatives, who were on routine patrol of Apapa sighted three young men carrying a bag at around 11:00 p.m on Friday.

The officers accosted the men but the suspects on sighting officers dropped the bag and fled the scene. A check on the content of the bag revealed an AK-47. No ammunition was found in the bag.

Meanwhile, the suspected okada robber, Ayobami Adedeji, was chased by the operatives on routine patrol of Kola Bus Stop, in Alagbado Area of Lagos, after snatching a hand bag around 10:00 p.m.

Adedeji, in company of an accomplice, who he referred to as Aboki, had on Monday night, operating with a motorcycle, snatched the hand bag of one Kudirat Oyebade at Kola Bus Stop.

The operatives who were close to the scene of the incident chased the motorcycle into the inner streets. One of the suspects was however arrested while the rider escaped abandoning his motor cycle.

Adedeji, who snatched the bag stated “I was a bus conductor. I went to Kotangoa market on Monday to meet Aboki about how to raise money for ourselves…. We have been together for a long time. At around 2:00 p.m. on Monday, we perfected the plan to operate together on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, but our focus were Adura and Council bus stops around Agbado areas of Lagos State. Our priorities were handbags and purses.”

“We had snatched two bags and my colleague was keeping the money before our last botched operation. This was our first time…. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t know RRS operatives were monitoring us. I snatched the bag and they chased us into the streets. My colleague escaped after abandoning his okada and I was arrested,” he continued.

He added, “I dropped out in SS1 after losing my mother. My father was just a ceremonial father. He never cared about me since the death of my mother. He never assisted me but I had to fend for myself after the death of my mother.”

The rifle has been deposited at the RRS Headquarters for further investigation while Adedeji has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti for further investigations.

RRS Recover