End of road for notorious criminals at Ibeju-Lekki as Police arrest 4 suspects
By Ifeanyi Okolie
The recent arrest of four suspected members of a notorious burglary gang who have been terrorizing residents of Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State has suddenly put an end to the alarming rise in burglary activities within the area.
In fact, residents of the area who spoke with Crime Alert said they will now start sleeping with both eyes closed. Specifically, those living at 117 and 118 are currently relishing the peace and tranquility arrest of the criminals brought to the area.
The suspects who met their waterloo after they had burgled shops around Ayeteju Street in Ibeju-Lekki, were identified as; Toyin Abiodun, 22 , Sheyi Elereo, 36, Ojo Omori, 30 and Sarafa Omoaguru, 25.
Four of the suspects.
They were rounded up after they burgled a shop belonging to one of the prominent women leaders in the area. Luckily, they ended up in police net at a popular market in the area while attempting to dispose off their loots.
One of the victims who spoke with Crime Alert showered encomiums at the Police for rounding up the hoodlums. According to her, “We are happy this arrest came at this time, we were almost given up hope as these criminals have succeeded in making life unbearable for us all.
Before the arrest, their activities had deteriorated into an endemic situation with no end in sight. I am sure this arrest will bring an end to the terror they have been unleashing on us”.
Another trader in the area, Madam Ayisha Eromosele, however expressed reservations over the development. “ I am not sure this would bring an end to burglary activities by these faceless criminals, I am shocked people are celebrating and feeling comfortable over this arrest. The issue of burglary has become a very serious one and with just an arrest of four people, how are we sure it will bring an end to it?, she asked.
But the police are pretty much comfortable over the current security situation in the area, as they claimed to have solved the problem, which they described as quite challenging.
A police source, who spoke to Crime Alert, at Elemoron police Station, said “we are happy to have burst this gang; I can tell you categorically that they were responsible for most of the home and shop breaking in this area which has lingered for long.
A lot of people have lost their property to this gang. They have raided a lot of shops at night and even when we increased our surveillance, we discovered they operate on shift bases and by the time we go after them, they move again. But the last shop they raided turned out to be the end of the road for them.
Prior to their arrest, we have stepped up our strategy, and we decided to engage the assistance of other traders. First, we believe that these burglars would have to dispose their loots after every raid, so we collaborated with traders to be watchful of people they patronize.
They had burgled the shop of one Mrs. Kikelomo Adebiyi of Adeyeleju Street in Ibeju-Leki after which they stole lots of cloths. The bandits were on the verge of disposing it when they were nabbed by our men who were alerted by some traders in the market.
One of the suspects, 22- year- old Toyin Abiodun, told Crime Alert that poverty pushed him into crime. According to him “I am very poor and I don’t have a job and I decided to join this gang because I was so broke and hungry.
This people told me that I could solve part of my problems through these actions. I did not really know I was going to be caught so soon.” he lamented. When asked what he did with the little money he made from his earlier operations, the suspect said. “I spent them on food and clothing. I did not even have enough to send to my aged parents.”.
Meanwhile, Lagos State Police spokesman, DSP Samule Jinadu, while confirming the report said the arrested suspect will be charged to court at the completion of investigations.
