LEKKI ROBBERY SUSPECTS:We shot and killed policemen during Lekki robbery Because.. ─Arrested Suspect§

It has. Been confirm that four suspected members of a robbery gang
that unleashed terror on the Lekki area of Lagos on Thursday, March
12, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.
Firstclass newsline learnt that the suspected robbers ─ Duke Odogbo,
38, said to be the gang leader; Lawrence Kingsley, 31; Ebi Tosan, 20;
and 30-year-old Ekelemo Kuete ─ were arrested in Delta, Ogun, Ondo and
Lagos states.
Firstclass newsline crew reported on Friday, March 13, that three
policemen and a fish seller were killed by the gang which stormed the
First City Monument Bank Limited on Admiralty Way in the Lekki area.
It was also reported that the robbers, numbering about 13, arrived at
the bank, wielding AK-47 rifles and shooting sporadically for 30
minutes, during which the 14-year-old fish seller, Sarah Ibikunle, and
three policemen were killed.
It was learnt learnt that after the attack, the Commissioner of
Police, Kayode Aderanti, met with all commanders of the command's
combat units and assigned the task of fishing out the gang members to
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by SP Abba Kyari.
It was learnt that six decoy teams of SARS were deployed to arrest the
suspects from Lagos and the other three states.
Speaking on Wednesday, Odogbo, from Warri, Delta State, said they
killed the policemen because the gang was prepared to deal with every
resistance.
He added that they came with seven AK-47 rifles and carted away over
N15m in the operation.
He said, "I am an Ijaw man living in Delta State. I was invited to
Lagos to take part in the operation. I am not the gang leader, but
only an expert. We were initially at a hideout around the Langbasa
River till about 4pm.
"When it was time to move, we entered into two speedboats. I wore a
military uniform and we entered into Lekki from the riverside. When we
got to the bank, I was the first person to enter.
"We were 11 in number, and we had seven guns. In the banking hall, I
asked for the bank manager, but they said they could not find him. We
found some little cash ─ about N15m─ in a sack.
"While the operation was going on, others were outside, shooting to
secure the area. It was on our way back that I found two rifles with
them. They told me they collected them from the policemen they killed.
"What happened was that the policemen were in a van, and were passing
by. They thought they came for us and we could not take chances.
"So, they shot them and took their guns. On our way out, we tried to
open the Automated Teller Machines, but when they did not open on
time, we took the machines with us.
"I was arrested in Warri. I got N500,000 for my part in the operation."
Also, Ekelemo, who reportedly drove the speedboat, said they took off
from the Majidun area. He, however, denied that he was one of those
that shot the policemen.
He said, "I was the driver of the gang. I drove the speedboat. I am
also an Ijaw man. I stay around the Arepo area of Ogun State. It was
my brothers who called me to participate in the robbery. We call one
of the gang leaders, O.C. We had taken off on that Thursday from the
Majidun area."
Firstclass newsline learnt that the police recovered a Honda Accord,
2008 model, bought with the proceeds from the robbery. Two smart
phones, stolen from the bank workers during the operation, were also
recovered from the gang, as well as 130 rounds of ammunition.
The police identified the three deceased officers as Inspector Bethel
Agbobu, Sergeant Odehohwo George, and Corporal Imoisiu Ikechukwu.
The CP said efforts were on to arrest the remaining members of the
gang, adding that residents of the state should trust the police to
guarantee safety of lives and property.
He said, "The incident was a serious security breach in the Lekki
area. It captured the attention of all because five lives, including
three of our officers, were lost. I made a promise that we were going
to get these hoodlums, and we have done that.
"Lagos is not a place where criminals can hide; we are going to
continue to ensure safety of lives and property.
"Meanwhile, efforts are on to arrest other members of the gang."
Firstclassnewsline.net