LASTMA officials nab ‘one-chance’ armed robbers who robbed passengers with POS machine in Lagos
Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have arrested two notorious suspected ‘one-chance’ armed robbery gang at Ikate, Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
The General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bolaji Oreagba disclosed that the suspects were nabbed in the early hours of Sunday, November 27, 2022, by the patrol team of the Agency while on duty monitoring and controlling traffic around Lekki-Ajah axis of the state.
“Our officials while on traffic patrol heard passengers with a loud voice shouting thieves! thieves!! inside an unpainted T4 commercial bus (AAA 750 XX). While trying to stop the driver, he drove dangerously and our men pursued them with LASTMA patrol vehicle down to Ikate where they were blocked by another pathfinder car belonging to a good Samaritan,” Oreagba said.
Mr. Oreagba confirmed that while two suspects were arrested the other remaining two escaped with the P.O.S they used to withdraw passengers’ money inside the T4 commercial bus.
“The 2 arrested suspects with the recovered unpainted T4 commercial bus were later handed over to R.R.S personnel who were on pin-down at Chisco, along Lekki- Ajah. They were all later moved down to Ilasan Police Station for further investigations,” he added.
The General Manager however advised Lagos residents to always ensure they board buses at designated garages and always be vigilant/keen-eyed, especially when boarding public vehicles.
One of the rescued passengers Mr. Christophe Omukoro said he boarded the unpainted commercial bus from Alfa-Beach going to Ikate.
He disclosed that they were 4 with P.O.S machine collecting passengers’ ATM cards and withdrawing money from individuals’ accounts.
Mr. Omukoro confirmed that the passenger started shouting thieves! thieves!! thieves!!! after they had collected their phones with other valuables items from them.
Other rescued victims are Mr. Laffin Lawrence and Mrs. Owo Chidima.
