• Seven alleged cult leaders in police net

Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested the general manager of an unnamed company, Ade Segun, for allegedly stealing over 10 cars belonging to his previous employers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Mu’azu, said during a press briefing on Thursday that Segun usually applied for management positions in prominent companies with the sole aim of stealing their cars and selling them to unsuspecting buyers.

Mu’azu stated that investigation led to the arrest of the suspect at his new place of work, where he was employed as a general manager, adding that during interrogation, Segun confessed to stealing cars from his previous employers.

The CP said, “Sometime in December 2018, we received a complaint about one Ade Segun, who always applied for management positions in prominent companies with the sole intention of stealing their cars. Information gathered revealed that he had in the same manner stolen over 10 vehicles from companies and sold them to unsuspecting buyers in neighbouring states.

“After a thorough investigation by SARS operatives, the suspect was traced to a particular company where he was recently employed as a general manager. During interrogation, he confessed to have stolen several cars from his previous employers.”

The commissioner also paraded 17 alleged cult leaders apprehended by the Anti-Cultism Unit of the state police command, who were accused of terrorising residents of the state.

Mu’azu, who said the suspects were arrested following a raid on cultist hideouts in the Ayobo, Shogunle, Oshodi, Ajegunle, Apapa, Ikorodu, Ketu and Alapere areas of the state, added that they had been charged to court.

The CP stated, “Following a targeted and intelligence-driven operation carried out by the command’s Anti-Cultism Unit, which lasted four weeks from April 20, 2019 to May 19, 2019, in identified cultist hideouts in Ayobo, Shogunle, Oshodi, Ajegunle, Apapa, Ikorodu, Ketu and Alapere, the following members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities were arrested: Faruk Olaiya, 19, from Oyo State; Ayomide Joseph, 32, from Oyo State; Aliyu Mohammed, 23, from Kwara State; and Shittu Abu, 29, from Oyo State.

“The list also include Victor Asuquo, 23, from Delta State; Bolaji Ogunniyi, 23, from Ogun State; Adeyemi Samson, 35, from Osun State; Samuel Henshaw, 18, from Ebonyi; Michael Nwaba, 37, from Enugu; Kabiru Ishola, 21, from Lagos; Alaka Yusuf, 22, from Lagos; and Juwon Somade, 26, from Lagos.

Öthers are Divine Enu, 28, from Cross River; Godwin Adebona, 22, from Osun State; Salami Lasisi, 20, from Lagos; Tunde Akinbu, 28, from Ondo State; and Ayomide Akinfolarin, 26, from Lagos State. All the suspects have been charged to court.”

In a related development, three suspects have been arrested by operatives of the command for allegedly diverting and stealing 30 tonnes of powdered milk belonging to Kobo Logistic Limited in Lagos.

Mu’azu, who identified the suspects as Adesoji Olanrewaju, Sunday Ejirille and James Oja, said they were conveying the product to Abuja when they diverted it to an unknown destination.

He stated that the suspects were arrested and the product recovered in Abia State.

The CP said, “On May 13, 2019, we received a petition from Kobo Logistic Limited that on May 3, 2019, it employed the services of one Olarewaju John, to convey 30 tonnes of powdered milk from No. 13 Fatai Atere Way, Mushin, Lagos to Abuja, but he diverted the product to an unknown destination. Three suspects, Adesoji Olanrewaju, 43; Sunday Ejirille, 52; and James Oja, 47, were arrested in connection with the case. The stolen product was recovered in Aba, Abia State.”

Meanwhile, the command has launched the Operation Puff Adder to reclaim the public space from criminal elements threatening the security of the state and the nation at large.

Mu’azu, who said the special operation was introduced by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to tackle insecurity in the nation, stated that the personnel for the operation were drawn from the Police Mobile Force, Tactical units, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Rapid Response Squad, task forces and conventional policemen.

He said tough time awaited those who choose the path of crime in the state.

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