Robber Jumps into Lagoon with Loot to Evade Arrest

Matilda Omonaiye/

A suspected armed robber jumped into the lagoon while being chased by men of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command on the Third Mainland Bridge.

NewsmakersNG learnt that three other gang members were arrested by the RRS operatives, who were alerted to their activities by a victim on Monday afternoon.

The suspects, who were paraded today by the state police boss, Mr Imohimi Edgal, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, were identified as John Akinyemi, 27; Paul Oliseh, 37, and Amos Williams, 12.

They reportedly abandoned their operational vehicle, a Volkswagen Transporter, and fled on foot when they were accosted by policemen at the Iyana-Oworo end of the bridge.

A statement by the police on the incident further reads: “The policemen after being informed that the one-chance robbers were operating around the area, chased the bus, a Volkswagen Transporter with the registration number, AKD 562 XP, to the bridge.

“The robbers, after being double-crossed by the officers on the Third Mainland Bridge, abandoned their vehicle and were fleeing on foot when they were arrested.

“One of the robbers, who was later identified as Junior, 19, was hit by speeding vehicles twice on the bridge before jumping off into the Lagoon with the gang’s loot.”

Alleged gang-leader, Akinyemi, stated: “There were four of us. I was in charge of calling the team to work. It was our first trip for the day. We took four passengers at Estate Bus Stop in Alapere. They were going to Oshodi. We dispossessed them and dropped them off before Iyana-Oworo one after the other.

“We took their phones and money. We have been doing this for more than three months. We sell the mobile phones and jewellery, and we share the money.”

One of the victims, Semiu Oluwaseun, who alerted the RRS officers immediately he was thrown out of the moving bus, said the robbers collected his phone and the sum of N500,000.

Another victim, Jamiu Ojuroye, who was robbed on Sunday, identified Akinyemi as the driver of the bus he was robbed in around 8 pm. He said the robbers took N150,000 from him before he was pushed out of the speeding bus.

The victim added that he attempted to struggle with the robbers, but they poured a peppery substance on his face.

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