Lagos residents lament as robbers kill two in reprisal

Residents and traders on Okoya Street in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State have lamented the robbery attack that allegedly led to the death of two guards and the burglary of many shops.

The attack, which reportedly happened around 2am on Tuesday, was said to have been a reprisal by the robbers against a vigilance group contracted to guard the community.


PUNCH Metro had reported on May 8, 2018, that a salesman, identified as Obinna, was allegedly killed by a police stray bullet during a street fight involving some youths and hoodlums who invaded Okoya Street.

The hoodlums, reportedly identified as Cemetery Boys, had allegedly been robbing and terrorising residents.

Our correspondent learnt that in a bid to curb the attacks by the hoodlums, the vigilance group had engaged them for about three days.

A member of the vigilance group, Kamoru Lateef, alleged that the Tuesday robbers were Cemetery Boys, adding that they were led by one Kaka.

Lateef also said the hoodlums, who were armed with guns and other weapons allegedly killed two guards, identified as Jesse Onanuba and Isa.

He said, “The Cemetery Boys killed two members of our group. They shot Isa and Jesse Onanuba. When they killed Jesse, they cut his two hands and private parts. They shot Isa in the chest.

“Before this attack, the Cemetery Boys had robbed a resident of Okoya of his mobile phone. After he reported to us, two members of our group went on a peace meeting to retrieve the phone.

“They stabbed the peacemakers with daggers and we reported the matter to the Layeni Police Station.

“It was after this incident that they attacked us. I saw them burgled some shops and stole goods and other property. Some residents and vigilance group members came out to protect the community, but we never knew they had guns. It was too late when the boys knew that they had guns; and that was how Isa and Jesse were killed.”

Our correspondent gathered that the family of the deceased had yet to locate the corpses of their sons.

The eldest brother of late Jesse, Christian Chukwunedu, said he did not know how to break the news of his brother’s death to his parents.

“The police have not made any arrest; they have refused to provide the remains of my brother; I want the government to investigate this incident because I want justice for my brother.”

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A 35-year-old bar owner, Ejiro Omoniyi, said she lost N400,000 to the hoodlums.”

The state police spokesman, CSP Chike Oti, said, “There is neither record of murder at Layeni nor any other police station in the Ajegunle area. If there is any such case, we encourage residents to report to the police so that proper investigation can be done.”

POLICE DISMISS FOUR SARS OPERATIVES, CHARGE THEM TO COURT FOR ROBBERY, OTHERS

The Assistant Inspector General in charge of zone 2 command, AIG Adamu Ibrahim has upheld the  recommendation of police disciplinary body that recommended dismissal of four policemen attached to Special Anti Robbery Squad Ikeja, Lagos (SARS).

The four policemen  who were dismissed and subsequently charged to court on offences of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Unlawful detention, Intimidation and threatening violence being the report of the Investigation carried out against them when one Mr Chukwudi Godwin Odionye popularly referred to as 'Bishop' submitted a petition against the four on 2nd day of May 2018.

The petitioner in his petition stated that on the 4th of June 2017, he was in his house around Alagbado Lagos when the four armed men stormed  his house to effect his arrest on the allegation of performing 'FAKE' miracles.  He stated that after his arrest, he was taken to one hotel at Agege where he was detained and threatened to be killed if he fails to cooperate. He explained further that on the following day 5th June 2017,  he was taken to bank where he was made to transfer seven million Naira to one of the operative's account.

On the receipt of the petition the AIG ordered Investigation into the case.

On the strength of Investigation it was revealed that no proper police procedure for Investigation was followed in Mr chukwudi's arrest and that the four SARS operatives actually abducted the man from his house and Unlawfully detained him in the hotel under the guard of the suspects for personal gain.

The police men:
Sgt Adeoye Adekunle
Sgt Adenira Adebowale
Sgt Agbi Lucky
Sgt Odighe Hehosa

Who were subsequently found guilty during the orderly room trial for professional misconduct,  corrupt practices and discreditable conduct were dismissed and consequently charged to court on criminal charges of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Unlawful Detention, Stealing, Intimidation and threatening violence.

The Police Public Relations Officer of zone 2 command, CSP Dolapo Badmos while parading the suspects reiterated the AIG'S directive that the force will not tolerate any act of misconduct that undermines the value of International best practices of policing as she stated further that any police officer or men found guilty will not be spared.

Robbery suspects escape from police cell with handcuff

Two robbery suspects, Rotimi Adeyeye and Adeoye Bukola, have reportedly escaped from a cell of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Ondo State Police Command.

It was gathered that the suspects allegedly broke into the house of one Samuel Arifalo in the Ijoka area of Akure, and robbed him of some valuables on April 30, 2018.

A source said they were later arrested and handed over to men of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Akure, who kept them in custody for 16 days.

They were said to have been arrested for cultism instead of robbery.

The source said, “Some residents of the area informed the state Commissioner of Police about the matter and the commissioner directed that the suspects be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

“On Monday, the suspects escaped from police cell with handcuffs in their hands. Till now, the police have yet to get them.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the command had started investigation into the matter.

He, however, said the suspects were not arrested for robbery, but for stealing and burglary, adding that the SARS officers on duty at the time of the escape had been arrested.

Punch