How CP Odumosu Foiled Escape Plan of Suspected Attackers of Maersk MD, Wife in Lagos – Sources

Matilda Omonaiye/

Officers in Lagos have made further revelations on how the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, led the operation to arrest the suspected attackers of Managing Director of Maersk Line, Gildas Tohouo, and his wife at their Ikoyi residence last Sunday.

According to the officers, the suspects, Goke Olamilekan, an estate electrician, and his friend, Akande Adeyinka, had plotted the attack three weeks before the incident. 

The suspects had smuggled their weapons into the estate and hid them in an empty flat some days before the attack.

Tohouo’s Hungarian wife was killed during the attack, while he too was seriously injured.

NewsmakersNG learnt that the suspects would have escaped arrest but for Odumosu, who insisted that the residence and neighbourhood must be searched thoroughly.

One of the suspects was allegedly found on top of a mango tree by Odumosu, who used a high-definition torch beamed on surrounding bushes.

One of the officers told NewsmakersNG: “He was marvellous that night. He really arrested them. If not for him, our approach would have been different. He was on patrol around Ajah flyover when he got the news. He directed me the Area Commander Area A and DPO Ikoyi, CSP Mustapha to cordon off the scene immediately that he was on his way coming to join us. We did. Shortly after, he came with his escorts. The husband was still breathing. He ordered the DPO to take him to hospital. He went to his vehicle and brought out one industrial torch. The light effect was like a floodlight. We followed him and started searching every nook and cranny of the compound.

“He said that with our response time, the attackers wouldn’t have left. They must be lurking around. In fact, experience is the best way to handle issues. It paid off. We arrested the one who was invited/hired. He took us to the electrician’s office. We met him lying down on his bed, he had removed the trouser he wore during the operation and pretended to be sleeping. We brought him out, handcuffed them.

“The Area Commander of Area F – ACP Soji Akinbayo, who was the Command incident duty officer, joined us in the operation. We interrogated them on the spot and CP later called on DC Panti who joined us with a homicide team around 3 am.”

Another officer said, “The CP received the distress call and raced to the scene in less than an hour. He was on patrol when he got the message. Everywhere was dark and so, the CP brought out a very bright and big torch from his car,” one of the officers revealed.

He added, “As we were going there, he called both the area commander, ACP Bode Ojajuni, and the DPO in charge of the area to join him.

“He practically smoked the suspects out from their hiding places. Those suspects would have escaped if the CP had not taken the urgent steps he took.

“He insisted that everywhere in the estate be searched despite everyone else itching to go home.

“He insisted that the police must get a lead that would help both investigation and quick arrest of the suspects if they had fled.

“With his insistence, all other officers had no choice but to obey. It was while the search was going on that he flashed his torch up and then saw one of them hiding atop a mango tree. He was promptly arrested.”

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