How 58-year-old woman was robbed of foreign currencies, trinkets

For allegedly robbing a 58-year-old woman of her hand bag containing foreign and local currencies, as well as other personal effects on New Year’s eve, operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested five suspected robbers.

The suspects, arrested after tip-off, were alleged to have accosted their victim, simply identified as Alhaja, around Ketu Bus Stop after alighting from a tricycle, at about 9p.m. and dispossessed her of money and personal effects.

According to Alhaja, “I boarded a Keke Marwa (tricycle) going to Ketu Bus Stop. I had crossed from Motorways end after a visit to my children. “I got down close to Ketu Bridge on Ikorodu Road. I was the only one alighting, as other passengers had got down earlier.

“I was surrounded by five young men wielding knife and daggers. They collected my phone and hand bag containing $800, 400 Qatari Riyald, N45,000, America Visa card, pouch containing gold trinkets valued at N110,000 and a purse with unspecified amount.

“After collecting all I had on me, they were still using my line to call my husband that I should bring N25,000 to collect my phone. At a point, I had to block the line when the harassment was getting too much for me.

“I reported the case at Ketu Police Station. I learned it was referred to RRS. It was then that I was invited to come and identify them. I saw one of them, who gave his name as Shola.

” Shola in his confession to the police stated that the robbery was led by Sikiru, otherwise known as “Hauwa,” who police said was on the run. Shola, according to sources, was said to have sold the victim’s mobile phone to one Michael Ogunnaike, who took the Police to the suspect’s hideout in Ketu, Lagos.

About 13 suspects were reported to have been arrested in the hideout, but five were said to have been implicated by Shola of their involvement in the robbery.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, has ordered that the case be transferred to Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, for further investigations and arrest of those still at large.