The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a sergeant, identified only as Omorokai, and three others for allegedly diverting a 20-feet container in the Okokomaiko area of the state.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Omorokai, who is said to be attached to the Striking Unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, and the others, whose names had yet to be ascertained, were nabbed by the Okokomaiko Police Division and another Ikeja SARS team, while allegedly taking the container for sale.
Our correspondent gathered that the company, which owned the trailer, had put a distress call across to the police that armed robbers attacked the driver and the conductor.
It was learnt that the trailer, which had a tracking device, was found in the Okokomaiko area and four suspects – including Omorokai – were arrested.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that four policemen, from the SARS, Ikeja, were allegedly involved in the robbery, but three of them escaped from the scene.
He said, “What happened was that four policemen, attached to SARS, Ikeja, on Saturday waylaid the trailer carrying the container around the Abbatoir, Agege area. The trailer was heading for Sagamu in Ogun State.
“The SARS policemen, led by an inspector, drove a Toyota Sienna car, and they pretended to be officers at a checkpoint. When the driver of the trailer stopped, they attacked and ordered him to get out of the trailer, and they began to drive the vehicle towards Agege to sell the container.
“But the buyer in Agege was not willing. They, therefore, moved to Okokomaiko to get another buyer. It was there that the police from the Okokomaiko division arrested them. The police also arrested three others, including a supposed buyer of the container which was laden with auto spare parts.
Another source said, “The police had to block the major parts of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway before the suspects could be arrested. Three police units – SARS, Safer Highways and the Okokomaiko division – were involved in the operation.
“Initially, the suspects insisted they were policemen and they had seized the truck. But when they saw they were going to be exposed, they started shooting. Three of them later escaped, while Omorokai was arrested.
“Three other suspects were later arrested in connection with the robbery. A sum of N30m, said to be proceeds from the sale, is with the runaway policemen,” the source added.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing into the matter.
She said, “We made arrests and the command is investigating the incident. I have yet to confirm if a police sergeant is among the suspects arrested. But if he is involved, you can rest assured that the command knows the disciplinary actions to take.”
