…As Abia police catches alleged deadly robbery suspect***

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu,  on Wednesday said  that 114 armed robbery suspects were arrested within the first 55 days of his assumption of office.

Odumosu indicated this to newsmen, while giving account of his stewardship in the last 55 days, as the incumbent Commissioner of Police in Lagos State.

“I assumed duty as the 26th Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command on Nov. 14, 2019, and the last 55 days had been quite eventful and tasking.

“It is worthy to note that crime rate has drastically reduced within the period under review.

“From November that I took over till date, the command arrested 114 armed robbery suspects and successfully foiled 22 armed robbery attempts,” he said.

The commissioner said that seven armed robbery suspects died during various exchanges of gunfire with the police.

“Fourteen suspects were arrested for cultism, three arrested for kidnapping and 82 arrested for murder cases.

“The state also recorded nine cases of suicide.

“The command recovered 11 stolen vehicles and so far 2,300 motorcycles were impounded during the enforcement of the Lagos State traffic laws,” he said.

Odumosu said that his mission as commissioner was to provide a safe and secure state that would guarantee socio-economic wellbeing for the people and enhance quality of life.

He said that this would be achieved through a more courageous, dedicated, humane and professional policing in the state.

“Our policy plans for 2020 include full implementation of community based policing and strategies that will close the gaps between the police and the public to foster cordial relationship.

“Also, feasibility policing and prompt response to distress calls as well as intelligently led policing approach, professional and unbiased investigation of criminal cases and diligent prosecution will be carried out.

“There will also be respect for all and protection of human rights and zero tolerance for corruption.

“Also, the command will collaborate with other relevant security agencies in curbing crimes and criminality in the state,” he said, adding that capacity building for officers and men of the command with enhanced welfare packages would also be put in place.

He said this would encourage the officers to put in their best in fighting crimes in the state.

He said that cultism and gangsterism had also been brought to their barest minimum since he assumed office.

“We identified the major cultist groups to include: ‘Eye’ Confraternity, ‘Aiye’ Confraternity, ‘One million boys’ of Ajegunle, ‘Fadeyi’ boys, ‘Akala’ boys at Mushin, ‘Awawa’ boys at Agege, and ‘Ijesha’ boys of Surulere.

“We arrested over 100  members of the ‘One million boys’ gang  on Dec. 31 during a night raid based on information that they were going to carry out a carnival in Ajegunle.

“We had reviewed our strategies and initiated far reaching approaches to totally eradicate the menace of cultism in our streets,” he said.

Odumosu thanked the members of the public for their cooperation in providing necessary information that had helped the police in dealing with crimes effectively in the state.

Meanwhile, the Abia Police Command says it has arrested an alleged member of a kidnap/armed robbery gang, said to be terrorising the residents of Aba.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ene Okon, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Aba on Wednesday, saying that a reliable police source identified the suspect as Darlington Olewumbu from Obazu Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo.
He said that the suspect was residing at No. 20 Christ Street, off Ibere Road, Aba.

Okon said that the suspect was a member of a three-man kidnap/robbery gang on the wanted list of the Intelligent Response Team, noting that Olewumbu was arrested at Agu Street, off Elvina Road by a team of detectives led by SP Alphonsus Ayang, the Divisional Police Officer, Ndiegoro in Aba, following a tip off.

He was allegedly arrested while in possession of one locally-made revolver pistol with one live- ammunition, one locally-made double barrel short gun and six rounds of live cartridge.

A police source said that during interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect and his gang were getting set for a kidnap operation, before he was arrested.

Also read:  Abia police confirm arrest of 5 kidnap suspects

The source said that the command had intensified the search for the two other members of the gang, who were said to be on the run, following Olewumbu’s arrest.