The Lagos State Police Command says it is on the trail of members of a robbery gang, who put on police uniform and mounted a checkpoint at the Anthony end of the Ikorodu Road.
Our correspondent gathered that the gang also harassed motorists, including a man, who they locked inside the boot of his car.
PUNCH Metro learnt that one of the suspected robbers, who disguised as policemen on a stop-and-search, Gbenga Erinfolami, had been arrested and was being held at the Anthony Police Division.
Our correspondent gathered that on Friday at about 6am, the team had stood at the Anthony end of the Ikorodu Road, stopping vehicles and extorting money from them.
It was learnt that when a motorist, whose name had yet to be ascertained, got to the place, they flagged him down and asked him to park.
It was said that the victim, thinking the suspects were policemen, came out of his car only to be beaten up by the fake policemen.
His vehicle was said to have been broken into, while he was bundled and locked inside the boot of the car.
PUNCH Metro learnt that one of the eyewitnesses put a distress call across to the police, and the men of the Anthony division moved to the scene. Erinfolami was arrested and the victim was rescued, while other members escaped.
A police source told our correspondent that investigation showed that the runaway gang members included two dismissed policemen, who supplied the gang with uniforms, while other members were impersonators.
He said, “We got information that there were policemen at a checkpoint on Ikorodu Road, stopping motorists and extorting money from them.
“So, policemen from the Anthony division mobilised to the scene to verify the information. Truly, there we met them. There were actually two dismissed policemen leading that gang.
“They had locked a motorist inside the boot of his car for unknown reason, and they were escaping with the vehicle when the police arrived at the scene. So, they abandoned the vehicle and fled. But one of them was arrested.
“The motorist explained that he thought he was stopped by genuine policemen until they manhandled him and locked him up.”
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the incident, adding that the command would continue to beam its searchlight on fake policemen who extorted money from unsuspecting civilians on the roads.
He said, “The gang had taken possession of the vehicle and put the motorist in the boot of his car. The suspect in custody is helping investigation while efforts are on to arrest other members. We will continue to expose these criminals and take appropriate actions. Lagos residents should understand that not every gun-wielding man wearing police uniform is actually a genuine policeman.”
Our correspondent learnt that also on Friday at about 10pm, five robbery suspects were arrested in the White Sand, Orile area, while allegedly heading for an operation in the area.
The suspects were reportedly on a motorcycle with number plate, KTU 701 QH, driven by Ayomide Alabi, said to be the gang leader, when an anti-robbery patrol team from the Orile division intercepted them.
PUNCH Metro gathered that one locally-made cut-to-size pistol with two unexpended cartridges were recovered from the suspects.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further investigation.
-punchng