Men of Ogun state police command in the early hours of Saturday, February 27, arrested two armed robbery suspects while operating at Shagamu interchange area of Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
The two suspects, Solomon Aghofure a 30 years old indigene of Delta state, and Emmanuel Mathew a 37 years old indigene of Abia State were arrested when the police patrol team of Shagamu division were on routine patrol of the expressway at about 1:30 am. The suspects and their gang who have already positioned themselves at the interchange in readiness for attack on the commuter plying the road opened fire on the passing patrol team led by the DPO, CSP Okiki Agunbiade.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, reads in part
”The team engaged them in shoot out at the end of which one of them sustained gun shot injuries and subsequently apprehended.
Other members of the gang escaped into the bush abandoning their operational vehicle. The bush was thoroughly combed from where the other suspect was also arrested. A police corporal attached to the team also sustained gunshot injuries on his leg and was rushed to hospital for treatment.
On interrogation, the suspects informed the police that they are five in number in their gang, they gave the names of others as Uche a.k.a two million, Arinze and Uzor. They further revealed that the three escaped members of the gang are ex convicts who had served various jail terms in okitipupa Ondo state and Shagamu in Ogun state. It was after their prison term they formed the gang and recruited them.”
The statement adds that the state commissioner of police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation. He also directed that the escaped members of the gang must be hunted for and brought to justice.
Oyeymi added that the police boss appealed to members of the public especially hospitals to quickly inform the police if anyone with gunshot injury is seen in their vicinity.
