One of the four suspected traffic robbers, Ismail Akinlade, arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit also known as the Lagos Task Force has disclosed that he spent the proceeds from their crime on drugs and gambling.
Akinlade, who was arrested alongside the trio of Rasak Abiodun, Adefabi Gbolahan, and Rilwan Olaloye, narrated this to the task force operatives during an interrogation session.
The spokesperson for the task force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, disclosed this in a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday.
According to Abdulraheem, the suspects who specialised in robbing motorists, often took advantage of the ensuing gridlocks to distract their victims and depose them of their belongings.
He added that they were however arrested in the Mushin area of the state after a stolen phone was traced to their hideout.
The spokesperson said, ‘The Lagos State Taskforce has apprehended four suspected traffic robbers who specialise in robbing motorists of their belongings inside traffic gridlocks during rush hour.
“The suspects, Ismail Akinlade (26), Rasak Abiodun (25), Adefabi Gbolahan (25), and Rilwan Olaloye (20), were apprehended in Mushin after a series of investigations led officers to their hideout.
“These individuals reportedly target distracted motorists, stealing phones, bags, and other valuables from vehicles while distracting the occupants. Following a series of manhunts and intelligence gathering, officers of the agency traced a stolen phone to the Idi-Oro area in Mushin where the suspects were apprehended.”
He quoted one of the suspects as saying that after they had robbed motorists, they deposited the items to their leader who then proceeded to sell them on their behalf and gave returns to them.
Abdulraheem stressed further that the suspect also confessed that the proceeds he and other members of the gang received from the sales of the item were expended on drugs and gambling.
“Whenever I steal, I give the phone to Number One (now at large) at Mushin, who handles selling our loot. After a while, we return for the cash proceeds, which we spend on drugs and gambling,” he was quoted.
He added, “Ismail also revealed that they exploited bad portions of roads to carry out their attacks, preying on motorists who were forced to slow down due to the poor road conditions.
“They have all been interrogated and will be charged to court immediately. I urge others still engaging in such crimes in traffic to cease immediately or risk the same fate as the arrested four,” the statement warned.
PUNCH Metro reported on Wednesday that the task force arrested no fewer than 53 street urchins and miscreants suspected to be drug peddlers during a raid of their hideouts on Tuesday.
The raid was carried out in the Gowon Estate, Egbeda and some parts of Alimosho Local Government Area of the state, it was stated.
Abdulraheem revealed that items suspected to be hard drugs were also recovered during the raid.