By Onozure Dania

IT was the end of the road for seven suspected robbers who have been terrorizing motorists along Mile 2-Oshodi-Apapa Expressway when the Police in Lagos charged them to court on a three-count charge of robbery, stealing and conspiracy. They were arraigned before an Ikeja magistrate court, Lagos.

The defendants whose names and ages were given as Stanley Augustine, 28; Chukwuka Ezeilo, 22; Abayomi Olubuade, 19; Suleiman Layewola, 24; Taye Akatah, 25; Sodiq Shittu, 21; and Wale Oje, 24, were docked before Magistrate Taiwo Akanni.

The prosecutor, Inspector Samson Ekikere, told the court that the seven defendants and others now at large, had on July 5, 2012, at about 20: 45, at Mile 2 area of Lagos conspired to commit felony to wit: robbery, and stole a blackberry and a Nokia X 2 phone both of which are worth between N40,000 and N13,000 respectively, belonging to one Mr. Olajide Ajikanle and Mr Kayode Adesanya.

*Some of the suspects

According to Ekikere the seven defendants were members of a robbery gang and the offence committed is contrary to section 5 (b) and punishable under section 297, 295 (1) of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges and Magistrate Akanni subsequently granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum. The matter was adjourned to August 22, for trial.

How they were arrested: The Police at Kirikiri, Lagos, penultimate Thursday created a rare record for the force after it descended on hoodlums that have been terrorizing motorists along Mile 2, Otto Warf-Berger Yard axis on the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway.

In an operation that resulted into pandemonium following staccato sounds of gunshots, motorists and passers-by scampered for safety in different directions as the battle-ready policemen engaged the hoodlums in a fierce fight for supremacy.

At the end of the exchange of fire, three persons said to be leaders of the criminal gang that have been terrorizing motorists on the expressway were arrested. Rumpled wads of naira notes in different denominations which they allegedly snatched from their unsuspecting victims and assorted makes of telephone sets were recovered from the criminals.

Police sources said the operation was as a result of complaints of incessant attacks by people that make use of the ever-busy highway daily. A motorist who refused to disclose his identity intimated that he had suffered several attacks on the highway especially from 7pm till 9pm while in the traffic gridlock that always take place on that particular portion of the highway.