The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three suspects allegedly linked to a series of robbery operations involving five vehicles and valuables estimated at about N50 million.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed the arrest on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
Tijani said operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested the suspects, aged between 26 and 31, at different locations in Lagos after receiving actionable intelligence.
According to the commissioner, preliminary investigations linked the suspects to robbery operations allegedly carried out on August 23 and September 30 along the Ife Expressway in Osun State.
He said about five vehicles were reportedly snatched during the operations, while valuables worth approximately N50 million were allegedly taken.
The suspects were also allegedly linked to the robbery of a notable traditional ruler in Ondo State.
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Police recovered a Toyota van with registration number BDJ 180 AJ, registered in Oyo State, from the suspects.
Tijani said the suspects had made confessional statements and were assisting investigators in efforts to recover other stolen vehicles, apprehend additional members of the gang and retrieve weapons allegedly used during the operations.
One of the suspects, a 32-year-old ex-convict, reportedly told investigators that members of the gang stole a bag containing money belonging to the traditional ruler after noticing his vehicle parked by the roadside.
He claimed that a member of the gang took him to the location, where they encountered the traditional ruler’s vehicle while returning from an earlier operation.
According to the suspect, the gang member took the bag, placed it inside their vehicle and continued the journey to Lagos.
He said he was later dropped off in Lagos and claimed that he did not know the bag was inside the vehicle until police officers informed him.
The suspect reportedly said he joined the gang because he needed money to start a business, adding that he had previously been involved in the sale of machine spare parts.
He also acknowledged that he had previously spent time in prison and expressed regret over his alleged involvement in the robbery.
The suspect reportedly promised not to return to crime, saying his involvement was driven by his desire to raise money to start a business.
The police said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement and recover more stolen property and weapons.
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