- He stated that the criminals had made life hellish for the people staying in these border communities
At least 12 suspected armed robbers have been arrested in Ogun state communities bordering Lagos.
The criminals, who specialised in robbing and terrorising motorists, were apprehended by the So-Safe Corps of Ogun State.
The So-Safe Corps said the 12 men mostly operated at Ajegunle bus stop area in Ogun-Lagos border communities.
The Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Wednesday.
Ganzallo, who spoke through his spokesman, Moruf Yusuf, said the corps had been inundated with reports of the activities of some gang of cultists, who had turned into armed robbers, terrorising passengers and drivers, snatching phones and other valuable items.
He stated that the criminals had made life hellish for the people staying in these border communities as they caused panic and stoked tensions among members of the public.
The suspects were also accused of forcing people to “transfer money to a particular POS machine” from where they usually withdrew the cash.
“The suspected robbers were known for instilling fear and causing panic among the road users in the border areas of Ajegunle, Toll Gate, Shoprite area, Dalemo bus stop, all in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
“These criminal elements had been carrying out their dastardly act by stopping motorcycles and extorting the passengers while they were armed with dangerous weapons like knives, broken bottles and cutlasses,” he said.
Ganzallo had ordered the zonal commander, Ado-Odo/Ota Zonal Command, Tajudeen Odunmbaku, to arrest the men under 24 hours, and this was achieved.
The suspects were identified as: Mercy Aromolashe, 23; Abiodun Olatunji, 27; Ajala Sodiq, 27; Yusuf Ishaya, 29; Lukmon Ustman (aka Mafos), 25; Monday Oriyomi (aka Ajagbe), 25; Issa Ajibose Arogunmola (aka Figo), 28; and Sulaimon Ogunshola (aka Akube), 26.
Others are Hamid Idris, 22; Oriyomi Joseph, 24; Timileyin Odubanjo, 22, and Israel Danladi (aka Star Boy), 21.
The So-Safe boss expressed concern that the suspects had too much effrontery as they operated in broad daylight.
He added that packs of Indian hemp and charms were recovered from the suspects, noting that the suspects and the exhibits recovered from them had been transferred to the Sango Divisional Police Headquarters for further investigation and likely prosecution