LAGOS FEBRUARY 20, 2017 – State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old robbery suspect, who specialises in attacking ATM users at different parts of the metropolis.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.
Badmos said the suspect, Gbenga Babatunde, was arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) when he was attempting to attack a victim.
She added that the suspect confessed to have robbed about 35 ATM users before his arrest.
Badmos said that the suspect allegedly attacked a lady who had just withdrawn some unspecified amount from an ATM at about 5.48 a.m, at Alaba Rago Market, Ojo Area in Lagos.
“The victim raised an alarm which attracted the RRS operatives on patrol. They chased the suspect and got him arrested.
“One cut to size locally made short gun with two life cartridges were recovered from him.
“Also recovered were Diamond Bank debit card owned by one Nkechi Esther Idoko and a First Bank mastercard belonging to Iweka Christopher Uchenna.’’
Badmos said investigation revealed that the suspect was not operating alone as he had an accomplice whose name was given as Samson Baba Ramadan, 28, who is at large.
She said that the suspect revealed that they usually got to the ATM point by 4 a.m. while they hide close-bye at the ATM point.
“The suspect confessed that as soon as the withdrawer collected the money, they would accost him or her and collect the money and escape.
“He claimed that they collected N12, 500 on Saturday and N40, 000 on Sunday before his arrest,” she said.
The spokesperson said that the case had been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
