Policemen attached to Bode Thomas Division, Lagos State, on Sunday foiled two robbery incidents in Surulere and arrested three suspects in the process.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were operating about 8:30am when a resident sent a distress call to the police.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, learnt that the Divisional Police Officer, Bode Thomas, Mr. Bode Ojajuni, led policemen to the scene and arrested one of the suspects identified as Lekan Jamiu.
The residents said the other two suspects, Lukman Bioku and Dare Johnson, immediately ran into a nearby compound.
They said when the policemen chased the suspects, they (suspects) jumped over the fence into another compound.
It was gathered that when the robbers entered the compound, they held one of the occupants hostage, threatening to kill the victim if he alerted the police of their presence.
It was learnt that in their bid to escape from the compound, they took clothes which had been spread on a line and wore them. They were about escaping when the policemen arrested them.
A resident, who preferred anonymity, said, “As the robbers kept jumping from fence to fence, the policemen pretended to have left the scene so that the robbers would think the coast was clear.
“After the robbers had changed their clothes, they were about escaping when the policemen arrested them.”
The incident was said to have caused pandemonium as the residents almost lynched the suspects before the policemen saved them.
A landlord in the area, who declined to give his name, said he was impressed by the manner the police displayed professionalism, noting that robbers usually chose festive periods or weekends to unleash mayhem on the area.
He said, “It seems the new modus operandi of these robbers is to attack on Sundays when people are careless as regards security or festive periods when people entertain many guests.
“I was really impressed with the way the police handled the situation. The three suspects were arrested and they did not succeed in robbing any of us.”
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.
She said the command was not resting on its oars in fighting crime, adding that the beefing up of security was not only during festive periods but beyond.
She said, “The Bode Thomas Police Station received a distress call that robbers were operating. So the DPO led his men to the scene. On seeing the policemen, the robbers opened fire but one was immediately arrested while two others escaped.
“The two, who escaped, jumped over a fence into a compound, held the occupants hostage and changed their clothes so that they would not be easily identified by the police but they were arrested and a locally-made pistol was recovered from them.”
Meanwhile, the Bode Thomas Police Division also foiled another robbery attempt at Adisa Badua Street, Surulere. The robbers had attempted to snatch a black Toyota RAV 4 with number plate NT427KJA but abandoned the operation on sighting the policemen.
PUNCH Metro learnt that efforts were being made to arrest the fleeing suspects while the car was taken to the station.
.jpg)
