By Evelyn Usman

THEY are five in number with different ages, heights and complexion. But they have one thing in common; robbery! The suspected members of a robbery gang, according to the Ogun state police command, were responsible for some of the attacks on travelers along the expressway.

Aside this, the command stated that the suspects also confessed to be specialists in snatching vehicles from the Otta end of Ogun state which they  sold  at give-away prices in  Ogun  and Lagos states. Report said they also specialized in snatching motorcycles from their riders, posing as passengers.

Their modus operandi, as gathered , included mounting a motorcycle with an appeal to the motorcyclist that they would pay on reaching their destination. However, mid -way into the journey, they reportedly will bring out their guns and order the motorcyclist to park or have his head blown off.

Fear stricken motorcyclist

Like an obedient lamb,  the fear-stricken   motorcyclist would park as ordered, after which he would be forced to  surrender the key of the motorbike to the hoodlums. However, sometimes when  a  motorcyclist puts up  a struggle, he would be maimed or killed in the process with his motorcycle eventually driven away.

Worried by the incessant attacks on their members, various associations of motorcyclists  around Otta reportedly held  series of meetings with their members where they handed down  stern warning not to carry two persons on  motorbike, as a way of checkmating activities of robbers.

*Suspects and recovered weapons

Even at that, Crime Alert gathered that the robbers also changed their tactise. This time around, they  would, as usual, pose as passengers going to a designated place. But unknown to the motorcyclist, their members were waiting at the place. Immediately they arrived , the robber on the motorbike would reportedly bring out his gun and order the motorcyclist to park where their colleagues are and in the process dispossess him of cash and the motorcycle.

In a bid to stem this tide, the Ogun State Police Command reportedly came up with  security measures which, Monday, led to the arrest of five suspected members of a notorious robbery gang that have been on the command’s wanted list. The suspects, as gathered,  reside somewhere around Badagry area of Lagos , from where they operate in Ogun state.

Luck ran against them  after Anti-robbery operatives from Ogun Police command acting on a tip-off swooped on them as they were preparing to for their usual operation. Report said one of them who opened fire on the policemen was shot in the head while his colleagues who attempted to escape on hearing the gun shots, were arrested.

Spokesman for the Ogun State Police Command, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi gave the names of the arrested suspects as   Taofeek Osho a.k.a Otin,  Babatunde Akanni  a.k.a Jedi, Olurombi Sakiru, Abayomi Akinola  and Seyi Durojaiye . A search, according  to  him, was conducted  in the suspect’s hideout where  six   locally made pistols cut to size, one  UTC axe and one expended cartridge were recovered.

According  to  Adejobi, “ In it’s effort to rid the State of criminal elements, the Ogun State Police Command under the able leadership of the Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, with his doggedness and ever determined zeal has again arrested five notorious armed robbers that specialized in Highway robbery and snatching of motorcycles in and around Ota, Ogun State.

This was made possible by the timely intervention of men of the Ogun State Command Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) who acted swiftly on information received about their hide out in French Village, Badagry Lagos State. The suspects are still under investigation at the State Criminal Investigation Department and will be charged to court immediately investigation is concluded.

The command uses this opportunity to reiterate its commitment in giving the citizen of the State the best in terms of security of life and property  and also to  warn people with criminal tendencies to relocate or turn a new leaf, as the state is no longer conducive for criminality,” Adejobi stated.