Police arrest 50-yr-old over ‘one chance’ robbery
The Lagos state Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old father of four, Matthew Tokeme, who has been using his Sienna bus for ‘one-chance’ robbery operation.
The arrest of Tokeme, who hails from Bayelsa state followed social media outcry over the criminal activities being perpetrated by the suspect and three of his gang member now at large.
Investigation into the activities of the gang revealed that they always station their vehicle at different bus stops around Abule – Egba, Ijaiye, Agege and Ikeja, where they pick unsuspecting commuters between 5am and 6am, after which they would drive to a lonely path and rob the passengers of their valuables.
The suspect who was paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja on Wednesday confessed to the crime.
Speaking on how the suspect was arrested, Odumosu said: “On February 3, at 5 am, information received from members of the public revealed that some armed robbers were sighted along Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, operating on a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number APP 488 FH, attacking and robbing unsuspecting victims of their valuables.
“This is a Toyota Sienna described by quite a number of victims on several occasions, especially on the social media. On the receipt of the information, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who have been on the look-out for the said vehicle and gang swung into action.
Breaking: Maria Sharapoava announces retirement
“The vehicle was intercepted and one Matthew Tokeme, who is the leader of the robbery gang and the owner of the vehicle, was arrested. He confessed to being the leader of the ‘one chance’ robbery gang. Investigation is ongoing to apprehend other gang members at large. ”
Making confessional statement, the suspect claimed his childhood friend based in Germany, had bought him the bus to use for transportation business, after his clothing business collapsed.
On the whereabouts of his other gang members, Tokeme said that “I don’t know where they live. I have never been to their homes as we only speak on phone and met at specific bus stops for operations.”
