LASTMA Apprehends Driver of One-Chance Syndicate Operating in Lagos
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a driver linked to a notorious one-chance syndicate that operates using a commercial bus with registration number KSF 56 XL to rob unsuspecting passengers.
The agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the arrest in a statement on X.com on Tuesday.
Victim’s Ordeal Leads to Arrest
The arrest took place along Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, following an incident involving a female passenger, Bibian Emelifonwu, who fell victim to the gang while commuting to work on Tuesday morning.
According to the statement, Emelifonwu recounted her experience:
“I boarded the bus and sat beside a man holding a nylon bag in the front seat next to the driver. As he pretended to open the front door, he leaned on me and discreetly removed my phone from my bag. Before I realized what had happened, they threw me out of the moving vehicle onto the highway.”
LASTMA officers who witnessed the incident immediately pursued the fleeing bus and successfully apprehended the driver, later identified as Toyib Ogunjobi. However, his accomplices—the conductor and another passenger—managed to escape.
Driver Confesses to Criminal Operations
During interrogation, Ogunjobi admitted to being part of a three-man syndicate, which also included the bus owner, whom he revealed was actively involved in their criminal activities.
The statement further disclosed:
“Their strategy involved luring passengers with cheap fares along the Costain-Ojota route, stealing their belongings, and then forcibly ejecting them from the moving vehicle.”
Ogunjobi also confessed that the syndicate generated between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 daily from selling stolen phones and valuables. He further revealed that several other one-chance operations were actively operating across Lagos State, highlighting the widespread nature of the crime.
Recovered Items and Official Response
Seven stolen mobile phones were recovered from the suspect at the time of his arrest. The recovered items included models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, Intel A623, Techno Spark, Techno Pounoir, and other Samsung devices.
LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the officers for their swift response and assured the public that the apprehended suspect would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for a thorough investigation and prosecution.
He also urged Lagos residents to exercise caution when boarding commercial buses, emphasizing that both public and private vehicles could be used for criminal activities.
No comments:
Post a Comment