Police in landmark victory; guns down notorious robbery kingpin, 10 others

Police in Lagos last week recorded a landmark victory over crime and criminality as the most wanted notorious armed robbery kingpin, Tokiwe Joseph, aka ‘TK’  was finally gunned down by men of the Lagos State Police Command in Seme,  Lagos.

Late TK who hails from Baylesa State was said to have commanded a 200-man gang that have been responsible for many heinous crimes, especially bank robberies in Lagos,  Ondo, Delta,  Ogun,  Edo and Benin Republic.

But his day of reckoning with the law came on Thursday March 17th 2016, when he led a 17-man gang to rob banks and Bureau de change in Seme.  Information about the attack filtered to the police who joined forces with their Benin Republic counterpart to foil the attempt.

The teamwork paid off as the robbers were engaged in a bloody gun battle that eventually led to the death of TK and 10 gang members of his gang.

According to the Commissioner of police, Lagos State Police Command, Mr Fatai Owoseni who paraded the lifeless bodies of TK and two others on Friday, the recorded success would not have been possible without the combined effort of the Joint Task Force comprising the Police, Customs, Immigration and Security Operatives from the neighbouring Benin Republic.

“Series of intelligence reports have been shared by the office of the Inspector-General of Police with the Lagos State Police Command and Border patrol Unit of the Force, alerting of the likelihood of massive and violent attacks on banks and Bureau-de-Change in Lagos and Republic of Benin, especially at the border at Seme.”

CP Owoseni told journalists that the reports that reached them indicated that the attack will be led by a notorious armed robbery kingpin and kidnapper by the name of Tokiwe Joseph, popularly known as TK.

“TK can be likened to a Field Marshall who commands different gangs of armed gangs that engage in all forms of criminalities such as kidnapping, high profile bank robberies, vandalism, piracy and cultism.

“TK has had his signature on almost all violent crimes in Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Ogun, Edo, and Benin Republic.

Intelligence had revealed that TK at a time led a gang to hijack a vessel on the waterways of Ghana. Intelligence had also revealed that he has his base in a creek situated somewhere in Ijagemo in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State,” Owoseni said.

The CP further revealed that recent intelligence reports confirmed the certainty of when the dastardly act would be carried out.

“The veracity of the intelligence therefore necessitated that the security operatives of Nigeria and Benin Republic were in constant surveillance of our waterways, banks, financial institutions as well as key vulnerable points.

“On 16th March, 2016, the notorious gang in confirmation of the veracity of intelligence reports, emerged from their base and navigated the waterways in three speed boats towards Seme. At about 2300 hours, the gang in a commando way came out of their boats with a view to advancing for the attack.”

The account revealed how the gang opened fire indiscriminately as they advanced and the security forces consisting of the Police, Customs and the Military who had been keeping vigil at the waterfront swiftly responded and repelled the attack. The security operatives of the Republic of Benin also joined forces with their Nigerian counterparts to present a unified and fortified front against the hoodlums.

“The gang consequently succumbed to the superior fire power of the security forces, abandoned the boats and fled in different directions. In hot pursuit of the fleeing criminals, the security forces of the two countries recovered the following exhibits;

Three speed boats, one of which had the inscription, ‘Castina Marine’, 22 pieces of dynamites; four Ak-47 rifles; 2 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Guns), a total sum of 3,678 assorted live ammunitions, 28 Magazines; live jackets;

3 x 50 litres jerry can of fuel;

2 x 100 litres jerry can of fuel;

assorted pieces of charms and

military magazine jackets.”

Owoseni said security forces continued hot in pursuit with a view to apprehend the fleeing hoodlums suspected to have suffered severe injuries. As of the time of the parade last Friday, police statistics showed that the gang suffered 11 casualties.

The Inspector-General of Police, ooooooo commended the efforts, sacrifices and steadfastness of all the security operatives involved in this operation and hopes that the synergy/camaraderie among the security agencies will be sustained.

CP Fatai on behalf of the Command, appreciated the partnership of members of the public and asked that the synergy between security agencies within and outside the country continues so as to reduce crime to the barest minimum.

He also stated that efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.