The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, yesterday arrested 3-man gang for phone robbery in Ikeja in the state.
The suspects; Eyiema Bassey, 35; Azuibike Ogbamgwor, 27, Daniel Nwnubam, 33, were picked up on Tuesday evening at about 11:00 pm.
The suspects were alleged to have cleverly deceived their victim, Lucas Olusola, 24 into parting with a mobile phone as deposit for goods he was about to be offered by the trio inside the Ikeja Computer village.
According to Eyiema Bassey, the leader of the gang, “The phone was collected in Ikeja at around 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm on his way Conoil filling station in Ikeja. Eyiema explained that the three-man gang accosted him when he was approaching Ikeja under bridge with fake foreign accent and claimed to be from Francophone country. We were trying to strike a business deal with him. What we do is that, we would first engage a passer-by and secure his attention. Later, we would tell him that we are foreigners and that we have brought goods to Nigeria. We would, then tell them to deposit money for the goods, but for this guy, he said he had no money and he deposited his phone”.
“He told us that he was going home to get money and we told him where to meet us. Suddenly, I think he realised that he was dealing with fraudsters and he attempted to get his phone back but one of us, Nwanubam, decided to drag the phone with him before absconding. As part of our plan, Nwanubam was to pretend as a stranger and intervene, and later escaped with the phone. Unfortunately for us, he absconded with the phone and he was caught, before he was handed over to the RRS men”, the gang leader said.
The suspect arrested later led RRS operatives to their hide out where the remaining members of the gang were equally nabbed at night.
The suspect stated that the gang resorted to the crime out of joblessness. He stressed that they go out daily to seek people to prey on.
The Police Public Relations Officer Dolapo Badmus confirmed the arrest, stating that there would be no hidden place for criminals in Lagos.
The suspects are to be charged to court.