• Decries death of officers, civilians
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 520 suspects in connection with various unlawful acts carried out in the state during the #EndSARS protest that was allegedly hijacked by some criminally-minded hoodlums.
Their offences range from arson, robbery, murder, rioting, malicious damage to unlawful possession of fire arms.
The State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said this during the parade of the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday.
Among the suspects is 19 years old Olamilekan Ibrahim, who allegedly broke into a new generation bank in Lekki and carted away N250,000 cash and other valuables.
Odumosu added, “The N250,000 is his own share of the loot from the banks, and a locally-made pistol was found on him.”
Other suspects are: Ebere Ruben, 29 and Samuel Oyediran, 16 were arrested by RRS operatives for their involvement in burning of the BRT terminal at Berger and TVC Station in Lagos State, with left-over of some quantities of Petroleum products with which they set the places ablaze.
“In the light of the above, it is a known fact that the protest was hijacked by armed hoodlums who have been responsible for series of killings, arson and looting of many shopping outlets in the state,” says CP.
The police boss, however, confirmed that thorough investigation into the cases has begun.
He enjoined the public to be rest assured that they would be updated as investigation progresses.
Recalling the 12 days long protest, Odumosu described it as peaceful, adding that the peaceful protesters presented a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu through him to register their grievances for necessary attention and action of the IG.
“The letter was same day endorsed to the Force Headquarters Abuja.”
In acceding to what seemed to be the major demand of the protesters, on Sunday October 11, the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) across all the state Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was announced by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
Accordingly, the structures of the defunct SARS and other tactical units in Lagos State were immediately collapsed and the operatives were assembled and addressed by the CP on the expectations and directives of the IGP following the disbandment of the Units.
However, in a swift turn of event, Odumosu decried that another dimension of the protest rolled in when the hitherto peaceful protest in the state turned violent on Monday October 12 when some criminally-minded hoodlums at the Surulere protest venue cashed-in on the precarious situation.
“They proceeded to attack the Anti-Kidnapping Unit’s Office of the Command located at Iyun Road, Western Avenue, Surulere with premeditated intention to liberate the suspected kidnappers detained in the facility,” he noted.
Sequel to the attacks, three of the policemen on duty were shot and critically injured while two suspects were set free.
“One out of the injured policemen, Inspector Erinfolamin Ayodeji, with one male civilian passerby, Mr. Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo, who were hit by a stray bullet, were later confirmed dead in the hospital,” the CP bemoaned.
Odumosu, therefore, assured the public that for the ember months, the command has put measures in place to legally deal with the criminals who might want to foment troubles or deprive law-abiding Lagosians of their property.
