Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) early hours of Sunday, arrested two members of a notorious ‘one-chance’ robbery suspects at Ikate, in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
The suspects and three others still at large had allegedly attacked passengers onboard their commercial bus when they were sited at Lekki.
The suspects had allegedly tried to take advantage of the diversion of traffic by the state government because of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential and Gubernatorial campaign rally in Lagos to attack passengers.
LASRMA’s General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, who made this disclosure said the suspects were nabbed by the patrol team of the agency while on duty monitoring and controlling traffic around Lekki-Ajah axis of the state.
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The general manager said, “Our officials while on traffic patrol heard passengers shouting thieves! thieves!! inside an unpainted T4 commercial bus (AAA 750 XX), while trying to stop the driver, he drove dangerously and our men pursued them with LASTMA patrol vehicle down to Ikate where they were blocked by another pathfinder car belonging to a good samaritan.”
Mr Oreagba confirmed that while two suspects were arrested the other remaining two escaped with the Point of Sales (P.O.S) which they used to withdraw passengers money inside the T4 commercial bus.
“The two arrested suspects with the recovered unpainted T4 commercial bus were later handed over to R.R.S personnel who were on pin-down at Chisco, along Lekki- Ajah.
“They were all later moved down to Ilasan Police Station for further investigation,” he added.
The general manager however advised Lagos residents to always ensure they board buses at designated garages and always be vigilant/keen-eyed especially when boarding public vehicles.
One of the rescued passengers Mr. Christophe Omukoro said he boarded the unpainted commercial bus from Alfa-Beach going to Ikate.
He disclosed that they were 4 with P.O.S machine collecting passengers ATM cards and withdrawing money from individual account.
Mr. Omukoro confirmed that passenger started shouting thieves! thieves!! thieves!!! after they had collected their phones with other valuables items from them.
Other rescued victims are Mr. Laffin Lawrence and Mrs. Owo Chidima.
