Joy Anyim
A motor cyclist who stole his in – law’s police crested vest and fez cap in order to hijack a motorcycle, along with two other suspects have been arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.
The motor cyclist, Emmanuel Michael, 24, in company of two other accomplices; Moses Ogeh, 27, and Ojonugwa Ojomeje, 29, were arrested in Ita – Maga area of Ikorodu after hijacking a motorcycle, popularly called ‘okada’ from a cyclist while impersonating police officers.
The trio, notorious for the act, were operating on Michael’s ‘okada’ in the area, had around 10 p.m. accosted the motorcyclist, stopped him and dispossessed him of his motorcycle. They were said to have told the owner that they were police officers from a nearby police station.
The victim on releasing the motorcycle to the robbers, walked few steps away before crying out for help. This drew the attention of passers-by and the operatives of Rapid Response Squad in the area. They were chased and arrested few meters from the scene.
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According to the Ojomeje, the leader of the gang, “ In July 2019, men in police uniform collected my motorcycle in Ikorodu Bus Stop. They told me they were Taskforce team from Ebute Police Station. They advised me to meet them there while they took the ‘okada’ away. It was after 10 p.m.
I went from from Ebute Police Station to Ijede, Mola and Ladigboye Police Post, there was no trace of them. It was my only means of livelihood. It was exactly a week I got the motorcycle on hired purchase at N280,000
I paid only N40,000 with a balance of N240,000 to settle the owner, Chinedu. I searched for it in all the surrounding police stations but there was no record of it.
In order to pay the balance, because Chinedu couldn’t take the excuse. I borrowed my friend’s bike, and bit by bit, I paid another N40,000. Because the owner was deeply on my neck with the payment, I sought the assistance of my friend to help me hijack another motorcycle. ”
He continued: “I had a MOPOL vest at home thrown away by a former neighbour in Obalende. I appealed to Michael to borrow me his sister’s husband police uniform. The plan was to get a motorbike for me and later on, I would pay them too after I might have finished paying my debt.
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While I put on the MOPOL vest, Ogeh, a food stuff seller, puts on the police vest and fez cap. At 10 p.m, the three of us set out using Michael’s motorcycle to Ita Maga. We collected a bike but we were arrested”.
Protesting vociferously to Ojomeje’s explanation of their roles, Michael and Ogeh stated that they were charmed and made to take an oath by their ring leader. They added that they were offered kolanut to eat after Ojomeje had promised them a successful outing.
According to sources, investigations revealed that no police record avowed that a bike was collected from Ojomeje since July, 2019.
It was also disclosed that Michael’s in – law whose police vest and fez cap were used for the operation, was outside the state at the time of the incident.
The suspects have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation.
Reacting to the development, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Muazu Zubairu, stated that the police would not relent in its efforts at bringing to book criminals who impersonate the police to give the force a bad name.