Hurricane appears to be sweeping through the Lagos underworld as police announced on Thursday that with new logistics support they have killed 16 armed robbers and arrested 780 suspected criminals this week.
While briefing reporters at the State Command Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar said out of the 780 suspects, 668 had been charged to court.
Abubakar said his men recovered 16 arms, 43 ammunition of various caliber, 22 stolen vehicles and 255 motorcycles from armed robbers.
To strengthen the police in their war against criminals, the state government had donated over 130 vehicles and bullet proof vests to the crime fighters, with the payment of special allowances to members of the Rapid Response Squad.
The governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola has also announced that he would deploy another 200 vehicles from the public-private sector partnership, along with new bullet proof vests, uniforms, helmets and other equipment to fight crime, as a new comprehensive insurance package is now in place for officers and men.
Explaining the circumstances under which his men killed or captured some bandits during the week, Abubakar said that on September 11, at about 11 pm, anti-robbery team attached to Apapa division, while on patrol along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway received a distress call that some gunmen were robbing passersby and motorists close to Tincan Island first gate.
He said, “the team rushed to the scene, but when the hoodlums sighted the team, they got into their get-away bus. They were given a hot chase and were eventually rounded up. In a bid to escape on foot, the robbers opened fire on the team. However, owing to superior firepower of the police, four of the robbers were killed, while others managed to escape with bullet wounds. Two locally made double barrel guns, four live cartridges, Mitsubishi L 300 bus were recovered.”
Abubakar also told the success story of anti-robbery team from Ayobo police division and those at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, who killed some robbers during gun battles and recovered loads of ammunition.
The policemen at Ayobo, who were responding to a distress call, encountered armed robbers near Megida bus stop, while every escape route had been blocked. The robbers who abandoned their vehicles and tried to escape on foot had a shootout with the cops who killed a member of the gang. A locally made pistol with an expended cartridge, N50,000 and other items were recovered at the scene.
Abubakar, who commended his men for putting up a good fight, also gave awards to 10 of the outstanding officers, who were named as Inspectors Michael Nzurike, Okon Samuel, Emmanuel Onwuemeli; Sergeants Ajao Taofeek, Haruna Abdulahi, Odofin Segun, Corporals John Iruobe, Ibrahim Haruna, Akinyola Kabiru and Police Constable Adeyanju Rafiu.