Sunday, July 6, 2025 - The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four suspects, including the manager of a petrol station, in connection with a suspected robbery gang believed to be behind a series of armed attacks across the state.
The suspects, identified as Noble Saint Neokoro, Batomie
Samson, Abubakar Ali, and Bitrus Ibrahim, were apprehended by officers from the
command’s Tactical Squad Hawk following a discreet operation carried out in the
Ejigbo area. The arrests were made possible through credible intelligence and
sustained surveillance.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the manager of a
local filling station was among those taken into custody, although the
station’s owner is said to have had no knowledge of the alleged criminal
operations linked to his premises. Sources close to the investigation disclosed
that the suspects have confessed to being members of a robbery network.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Public
Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the arrests are part of ongoing
efforts to dismantle a syndicate that specialises in hijacking trucks
transporting petroleum products and other goods.
“The Tactical Squad Hawk carried out the operation that led
to the arrest of four suspects, including a fuel station manager,” Hundeyin
stated. “The owner of the station has denied any involvement. The Nigeria Union
of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, also played a vital role in the
apprehension of the manager.”
He further revealed that the arrests are linked to an
earlier incident on June 28, during which a tanker loaded with Premium Motor
Spirit, PMS, was hijacked and later discovered empty in the Orile area of
Lagos.
That operation led to the arrest of seven other suspects at
a filling station in Ejigbo, where the stolen fuel was reportedly being
discharged. The suspects arrested in that case were named as Izuchukwu
Nwanoruo, Kayode Falodun, Ojo Ayodele, Ayomide Thompson, Ahmed Saliu, Igbalaye
Kareem, and Babatunde Ahmed. The recovered tanker has since been secured and
documented as evidence.
SP Hundeyin confirmed that all suspects are cooperating with
investigators and will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of the
probe.
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