How Police Hunted Down Vicious Interstate Robbery Syndicate

The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a suspected interstate armed robbery syndicate notorious for car hijackings across several states. The suspects — Taiwo Alabi, 42; Ogedengbe Lowis, 46; Ighodalo Enato Francis, 37; and Osaro Eghe Abiodun, 34 — were arrested in coordinated operations spanning Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Edo states.

According to police sources, one of the suspects was apprehended at a popular church in Benin City, while another, an Uber driver in Lagos whose wife recently gave birth, confessed to aiding the gang. The driver admitted he knew his passengers were armed robbers, saying they carried firearms in a suitcase and revealed the weapons only when ready to strike. He claimed he was paid ₦500,000 for a single night’s operation.

Following his arrest, detectives traced the gang to Godwill Street, Idowu Egba, off Isheri-Igando Road, where they recovered a semi-automatic pump-action rifle (breech no. 000565), an English pistol, 48 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 46 live cartridges, a cutlass, and criminal charms. The police also seized two Lexus ES350 cars, a Toyota Sienna, and a Toyota Corolla believed to have been stolen by the syndicate.

Addressing journalists at the suspects’ Igando hideout, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, said the arrests followed a car theft incident reported last month. He explained that two members of the gang had posed as passengers to a civil servant who offered rides after work to offset fuel costs. The unsuspecting driver was attacked and robbed once they reached an isolated area.

“Immediately the report came in, tactical teams were deployed, and investigations led us to three other states where the suspects had been operating,” the CP said. “This operation demonstrates that the Nigeria Police Force has the capacity to protect Nigerians across the country.”

Jimoh warned residents against using private vehicles for commercial purposes, describing it as a dangerous practice that exposes motorists to criminal attacks. He urged Lagosians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police.

One of the recovered vehicles was traced to a robbery between the Lagos-Ogun border. The victim, who expressed gratitude to the police for recovering his Lexus, recounted his ordeal.

“It happened around 9pm near Alagbado. I had just stopped briefly when someone banged on my door with a gun. Another man appeared on the other side with a pistol. They took my phones, jewelry, and car, then ordered me to face the wall. I thought they would shoot me, so I ran. Later, I reported to the police, and they recovered my car without asking for a dime,” he said.

The Lagos Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring residents’ safety through intelligence-driven operations and swift enforcement actions.