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Six Policemen arrested for defilement, robbery and attempted murder in Lagos

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Arraigned suspects [Photo: PUNCH]

Six policemen with the Lagos State Police Command are at present undergoing orderly room trial for offences in relation to defilement, attempted murder and robbery.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended from different locations in the state, where they were claimed to have perpetrated the crimes.

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A Sergeant, Sylvanus Emoche, who had been transferred to the Kogi State Police Command, in company with two civilians, had barged into the premises of a couple in Ajao Estate to forcefully take possesion of “an unregistered” Honda Pilot owned by the husband, Mr. David Okafor, PUNCH reported.

David Okafor’s wife, Oluchi, was reported to have questioned Emoche’s action, but the men adamantly maintained theposition.

She was said to have entered her Jeep in a bid to report the occurrence at a police station, after which Emoche allegedly opened fire on her vehicle during, resulting in the rupture of one of the tyres.

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The incident was said to have occurred on July 24.

Naija News gathered that Sergeants Benjamin Oboh and Onyenedu Kennedy of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ipakodo, were arrested along with Monday Ekhigato of the Bariga Police Station,on the grounds of extorting money from one Adesina Quwam, at gunpoint.

The plain-clothes operatives, who were in a Toyota Camry with number plate, JN 470 KJA, had reportedly approached Quwam at Ikeja under bridge on July 17, at about 10.30am.

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They were claimed to have labelled Quwam a Yahoo boy (Internet fraudster), while on his way to buy a phone at the Computer Village, as such the accused officers collected N65,000 from him.

The officers also led the young man to an Automated Teller Machine in one of the banks in the area and forced him to withdraw N40,000 for them.

“The same policemen stopped one Ghenoba Godspower and accused him of being an Internet fraudster. They collected N30,000 from him. Coincidentally, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad, Olatunji Disu, arrived at the scene with his patrol team. He arrested the policemen and recovered the money from them,” a source disclosed to PUNCH.

Naija News has learnt that the policemen had been recommended for dismissal.

Confirming the development during a press briefing on Monday at the Police Officers’ Mess, Ikeja, The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said that two other policemen were being detained for defilement. However, details of the randy policemen were not revealed.

According to Owoseni, “To demonstrate the resolve of the Lagos State Police Command and the Inspector-General of Police to sanitise the Force, some policemen found to have consistently harassed citizens by following them to ATMs and extorting money from them have been caught. They have been taken into custody. After necessary approval from the Force headquarters, those policemen would be charged with armed robbery.

“Two other policemen were arrested for attempted murder. They fired indiscriminately at a housewife. They will be prosecuted after orderly room trial. There is also a case of defilement involving two policemen. They have been taken into custody. They will face prosecution after the necessary administrative processes.

“We want members of the public to repose confidence in us. Witnesses don’t come up in the process of prosecuting these officials and it is a challenge to us. Once a complaint is made, it should be followed up with evidence.”

The CP included that 30 persons allegedly involved in administering mob justice on suspected kidnappers at Obadeyi-Ajala and Ile Zik bus stops on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway last week had also been arrested.

The CP said “The command will not watch the state being turned into a lawless society. The seven suspects arrested in Obadeyi-Ajala will be arraigned for attempted kidnapping and possession of criminal charms”.