Police arrest mother, her 2 children, 308 other suspected criminals [Photo]

The police in Lagos have arrested no fewer than 311 suspected criminals in different parts of the state.

The suspects include a mother and her two children alleged to be running a vicious robbery gang.

Parading 20 of the  suspects at the command headquarters, Ikeja, yesterday, the state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said two of the suspected robbers were shot dead during exchange of gun fire with the Police.

Giving a breakdown of the haul, Owoseni said the arrests were made between November 12 and 18, 2015.

He also said 24 motorists were arrested at different locations for violating Lagos state traffic law, while 401 motorcycles were impounded.

He said in line with the ban on street hawking by the state government, the Police arrested 109 hawkers.

Owoseni said 178 suspects were arrested during raids on criminal hideouts, adding that on the whole, 311 were arrested.

Woman, 2 of her children

On the woman arrested with her children, CP Owoseni said the woman, Gladys Onunkwo, and her two undergraduate children were picked up, based on a tip off.

He said: ‘’The two brothers who were paraded alongside other suspects, were arrested for allegedly robbing with their Lexus vehicle on Victoria Island axis of Lagos on the pretext of offering ladies a free ride to their destinations.

He said after moving to a certain place, they would rob them of their belongings, including phones, money and ATM cards, with pin numbers. They later end up stopping by any ATM centre nearby  where another member of the gang, still on the run, will effect withdrawals.

“In situations where their victims gave them a fake pin number, they will beat the victim up and even rape them as the case maybe. We were able to arrest the suspects after a victim who reported the matter to the police at Bar-Beach division gave detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle number plate. It was this that the police used in tracking the vehicle to Aguda in Surulere area of Lagos and found out that it belongs to their mother, Mrs Onukwo.’’

Suspects account

Giving account of their exploits, 23-year-old Chinedu Onunkwo, a 300-level Engineering student of Northern American University, told Vanguard:  “Our family is not a family of robbers. The car they are talking about is for our mother but we are not involved in the robbery. I think it was a set-up by those who do not like us.  Policemen came to our house at Aguda in Surulere, and asked about my elder brother, Ikenna.  I told them he was not around.

“They asked if I can follow them to the station. I did and the policemen brought out some victims and  asked them if I was the one and they said yes, that I was the person driving and my brother who they described as fair in complexion, tall,  was behind the car.

“I don’t know anything about what they are talking about.   Even the vehicle they are talking about,  I don’t go out with it.  Though the car is my mother’s car, my brother drives the vehicle.”

In his defence, 28-year-old  Ikenna Onunkwo Chris, a final year student  of  the same university, said he was arrested by the police along side his younger brother, Chinedu Onunkwo.

“We don’t operate. We are students of Northern American university.  The victims said at first that it was my younger brother, Chinedu.   Later, they said it was me. I don’t know anything concerning this,” he stated.


Vanguard