Agbara Robbery: Police Arrest Two, Recover Four Gunboats, Military Uniforms, Rifles

Barely 12 days after a daredevil armed robbery gang raided two banks at the Agbara area of Ogun State, killing three people, the Lagos State police command monday said two accomplices of the gang have been arrested by the command.

The command also recovered four gunboats used in the operation as well as four military camouflage uniforms, two mobile police uniforms, two locally made rifles and one mobile phone.

Although the leader of the gang and three members of the gang have since been arrested at a venue of a wedding in Delta State, their weapons had not been recovered by the police command.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the armed robbers abandoned the items in the heat of the pursuit before they fled in different directions.

He said the robbers, after they abandoned the two gunboats, hijacked two canoes belonging to local fishermen, with which they escaped.

Owoseni said: “After the robbery, the gunboats developed engine problems and in a bid to escape, they attacked some fishermen and took over their canoes. They went away in the canoes.

“The uniforms of the different security outfits and mobile phone were found in one of the boats they abandoned. The two canoes have also been recovered but because of the size of the gunboats and the canoes, the command decided to keep them at Area K Command in Morogbo.”

Owoseni, while commending the efforts of the policemen who battled the robbers, further revealed that during the course of investigations the command discovered that two other gunboats used by the gang in previous operations were traced to Ikorodu where they were hidden.

He said police detectives recovered the other two gunboats, adding that the two persons in whose custody the boats were kept, were also arrested.

“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to attacking owners of speed boats at gunpoint as well as dispossessing them of their valuables.

“They also stole the outboard engine of the boats. Four of the stolen outboard engines were sold to a receiver who resides in Ondo State.

“The receiver has been arrested, while the four outboard engines were recovered from the receiver,” he disclosed. Promising Lagosians a secure environment during the yuletide season, he spoke on efforts by the command to combat crime, stating that 19 armed robbery suspects were arrested between November 19 and 30, while 11 suspected members of different cult gangs were also arrested.

“During the period under review, 10 armed robbery suspects died in various shootouts with the police, while eight automatic and local guns, 15 different calibre ammunition and two vehicles were recovered,”  he added.