The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has declared that the era of armed and bank robberies in Lagos State is a thing of the past, attributing the success to the collaborative efforts between the police and the state government.

Egbetokun made this statement on Thursday during the 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). He noted that since 2007, only one bank robbery had been successfully executed in the state, which occurred in 2014.

“There was a time when armed robbery and bank robbery were common in Lagos. However, I can confidently say that since 2007, only one bank robbery succeeded, and that was as far back as 2014. The days of armed robbery and bank robbery are gone,” he said.

The IGP commended the Lagos State Government for its consistent support, emphasizing the critical role it has played in maintaining security in the bustling economic hub of the nation. He highlighted the challenges posed by the state’s continuous internal migration, with thousands of people moving into Lagos daily, creating additional security demands.

“What we are doing here today is the usual assistance the state government has been giving to the police. Without this, we would have been overwhelmed with insecurity in Lagos State,” Egbetokun added.

At the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu further demonstrated his administration’s commitment to security by donating over 250 brand-new patrol vehicles, along with hardware, communication gadgets, and protective gear to the police.

In his address, Sanwo-Olu outlined the government’s efforts to scale up the use of technology and data for improved security and traffic monitoring. He revealed plans to deploy drone technology for surveillance of waterways and densely populated areas.

“The EGIS component of our mapping and digitalization has almost been completed. Lagos is now properly mapped, and drone technology will be deployed to enhance monitoring, crowd management, and traffic assessment. This will ensure real-time responses to incidents,” the governor explained.

The post Bank Robberies Now History in Lagos Since 2014 – IGP first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Three individuals tragically lost their lives yesterday during a fierce gun battle that erupted as security forces thwarted a planned bank robbery at First Bank PLC in Abaji, Abuja.

The operation, jointly conducted by the Nigerian Police and the Military, unfolded on Thursday evening following a distress call received around 5:00 PM.

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According to a statement released by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT police, under the command of Commissioner CP Benneth Igweh, swiftly mobilized with military support to confront the armed assailants.

The attackers, reportedly armed with dynamites, targeted both the Abaji Divisional Police headquarters and the bank in an attempt to execute their robbery.

In a tense exchange of gunfire, security forces engaged the robbers, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Three suspects were apprehended, identified as Usman (surname undisclosed), believed to be the gang leader, Nuhu Musa, aged 41, and Muhammed Aminu, aged 25, all sustained severe gunshot wounds.

Tragically, one unidentified suspect was fatally injured and subsequently set ablaze by local residents following the confrontation.

Among the casualties were a police operative and the alleged gang leader, who sustained critical injuries during the exchange.

Despite efforts to save their lives, both succumbed to their injuries at a nearby hospital, as confirmed by medical personnel.

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CP Benneth Igweh praised the effectiveness of the coordinated operation, emphasizing the commitment of the police force to safeguarding the Federal Capital Territory from criminal activities.

He reassured residents that such incidents would not be tolerated, underscoring the paramount importance of public safety.

Currently, authorities are engaged in a manhunt to locate and apprehend any fleeing suspects who sustained injuries during the shootout.

The post Photos: Three Killed in Foiled Bank Robbery Attempt in Abuja first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Photos: Three Killed in Foiled Bank Robbery Attempt in Abuja appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The suspect, Michael Adikwu, an ex-policeman, was said to have been dismissed in 2012 by the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly aiding the escape of some robbery suspects.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Adikwu, until his dismissal, was attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the state command.

Adikwu was said to have been arraigned in court and remanded in a prison, where he spent three years before he found his way out and formed a robbery gang with others.

He was reportedly arrested on Tuesday in a town in Kwara State by the DCP Abba Kyari-led IRT operatives, who acted on a tip-off from members of the public who saw Adikwu’s picture among those declared wanted.

A robbery gang had stormed some banks in Offa on April 5 and killed scores of people, including nine policemen.

They reportedly carted away millions of naira during the operation which lasted for about an hour.

Although the state Commissioner of Police, Ado Lawan, put the number of fatalities at 17, the Operations Commander, Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Offa, Kwara State chapter, Wasiu Adepoju, said his men counted 50 corpses.

Leaked Closed Circuit Television footage of the incident revealed when the robbers blew up a security post of one of the banks as they intermittently brought out bags suspected to be containing money out of the premises.

While about 20 suspects were said to have been arrested, the Kwara State Government placed a bounty of N5m on the other fleeing robbers.

In a statement on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood, released the pictures of four members of the gang captured in the CCTV footage and declared them wanted.

Moshood stated that the assailants were being monitored by the International Police and would soon be apprehended.

A senior police officer disclosed to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that one of the wanted robbers was tracked down on Tuesday.

The source said the arrested suspect, Odikwu, was a police corporal and was dismissed from the Force in 2012 after his alleged involvement in the escape of some robbery suspects.

The source said, “He (Adikwu) was a SARS operative at the Kwara State Police Command. He used to fraternise with robbers. There was a robbery that happened in Kwara State about six years ago. The robbers killed somebody and escaped. The police were able to arrest those robbers.

“He collected money from those robbery suspects and released them. Later, the robbers were rearrested and they confessed that he aided their escape. He was arrested, tried in an orderly room trial and dismissed.

“He was charged to court together with the robbery suspects and was in prison for three years. He and some of the robbers were able to manoeuvre their way out of the prison and formed a robbery gang.”

Another source said a team of detectives got a lead that Adikwu was staying in a hideout in the state and swooped on him.

“The lead was given to the police by an informant. His hideout was cordoned off and he was arrested. He was apprehended by the IRT operatives in a community in Kwara State,” the source added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, said arrests had been made, but he had yet to receive information on Adikwu’s arrest.

He said, “What I know is that the IRT team and the command are investigating the matter and have been making arrests. The Force PRO will come out with other information at the right time.”

The FPRO, Moshood, could not be reached for comment as calls to his line rang out.

He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to his telephone as of press time.

Offa bank robbery: Police provides clearer images of wanted persons, announces N5 million bounty [PHOTOS]

The post Police arrest dismissed cop declared wanted for Offa robbery first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Police arrest dismissed cop declared wanted for Offa robbery appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Megaiconmagazine reports that armed robbers attacked five commercial banks in Offa on April 5, during which 17 persons, including policemen and a pregnant woman were killed.

The force who had so far arrested more than 20 principal suspects in connection with the recent bank robbery in Offa, Kwara has released simultaneously their photographs, while in action.

The images provided were the clearest, since the incident exactly a month ago.

The police said the Kwara State Government has also promised a N5 million bounty for information about the suspects, and they listed the hotlines to be contacted as 08062080913, 08126285268,08032365122,07056792065,08088450152.

The post Offa bank robbery: Police provides clearer images of wanted persons, announces N5 million bounty [PHOTOS] first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Offa bank robbery: Police provides clearer images of wanted persons, announces N5 million bounty [PHOTOS] appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The police had earlier arrested eight suspects bringing the number of suspects in custody to 20.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said the police recovered from the suspects, handsets, IPads and SIM cards belonging to victims of who were killed during the robbery, adding that they all confessed to the crime.

Those arrested include, Adegoke Shogo, 29; Kayode Opadokun 35; Kazeem Abdulrasheed, 36; Azeez Abdullahi, 27; Alexander Reuben, 39 and Jimoh Isa 28, who were arrested in Lagos.

Others are, Azeez Salawudeen, 20; Adewale Popoola,22; Adetoyese Muftau,23 and the trio of Aminu Ibrahim 18, Richard Terry 23, and Peter Kuunfa, 25, who were apprehended in Ilorin.

“These last three suspects were found in possession a Beretta pistol and 14 rounds of live ammunitions, which were recovered,” Moshood stated.

Other exhibits recovered were a Beretta pistol, 20 rounds of live ammunition, four phones and SIM cards.

He explained that the investigation team deployed in Kwara State by the Inspector-General of Police, arrested the suspects, noting that some of them engaged the team in a shoot-out.

Moshood stated that Shogo, an alleged drug baron and Indian Hemp dealer, was arrested in Offa.

“According to intelligence gathered from cultivated and reliable informant, he is alleged to be one of the sponsors of the robbery and the attack on the police station in Offa. He has made useful statements to the roles he played in the armed robbery,” the spokesman said.

He disclosed that Opadokun was just released from prison three months ago after serving eight months of his sentence for armed robbery.

The police added, “A Beretta pistol and six rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him. He has admitted to the criminal roles he played in the Offa bank robbery.

“Reuben 39, a native of Isoko LGA of Delta state, is a notorious bank robber from whom GMPGs, Rocket launchers and several rifles were recovered in 2015. He was released from prison in December 2017.”

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The post Offa bank robbery: Police arrest 12 more suspects first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Offa bank robbery: Police arrest 12 more suspects appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

Sadiq and his accomplices, who have been terrorizing residents of Okokomaiko and environs, were arrested by the operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS.

They were yesterday paraded alongside 35 other suspects at the Police Officers Mess, Ikeja, Lagos state.

Sadiq told reporters that he usually bought guns from Cotonou, Benin Republic at N20,000 and sold same to members of his gang and other gangs for between N30,000 and N40,000.

The 21-year-old suspect explained further that members of his gang usually robbed their victims, mostly females, while they were at the verge of boarding commercial buses.

According to him, three of his guns were lost to Police in foiled operations.

He said, “I bought the guns for myself, members of my gang and other gangs, who know what I do. I started the business last year, when I discovered it was more expensive to rent a gun than having a personal one.

“We operate at Iyana-Sashi, Igboelerin and Okokomaiko area of Lagos. At night we attack vehicles at Iyana-Sashi during traffic jams, dispossess passengers of cash and telephones.

“We operate with Okada. Mohammed introduced me to robbery. My operational name is Yankees. I was arrested at Ajangbandi, after an operation at a lotto house.

“One of my friends invited me to join him for the operation because I had arms. Unfortunately after the operation, he fled with the loot, while I was arrested because I didn’t know the terrain.”

The post Borrowing gun is too expensive – Robbery suspect confesses first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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