Operatives of Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspected traffic robbers who dispossessed the Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Mr. Debo Adesina, of his mobile phone, a Samsung S8+, and wallet in Oshodi-Oke on Wednesday, November 21.

The suspects, according to the operatives, were arrested at the scene in Oshodi Oke while attempting to escape.

The three suspects, two of who are ex-convicts released weeks ago include Samson Oyetayo (22), Tunde Segun (20) and Ayo Omoniyi (24), were arrested around 4pm on Wednesday.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, who disclosed this yesterday, while briefing newsmen, added that the suspects were arrested by the Command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Riders Unit, posted to Oshodi-Oke Pin-Down Point about 6.30pm that Wednesday.

According to Edgal, the suspects allegedly attacked and robbed Adesina about 5.30p.m. and were arrested one hour after the attack.

“The suspects were nabbed following a tip off received from commuters that hoodlums who specialised in snatching phones and robbing innocent citizens of their belongings during traffic at Oshodi-Oke were in operation.

“Armed with the information, I directed the officer in charge of RRS to deploy a team of police riders to Oshodi Bridge. On getting there, the men swung into action and arrested the suspects.

“They were subsequently searched and a Samsung X8 phone belonging to The Guardian’s Editor-in-Chief was recovered from them.

“Other items belonging to the journalist, recovered from the thieves include The Guardian I.D Card bearing the name of Debo Adesina and four ATM Cards,” he said.

The Police boss said that the suspects confessed to the crime and were giving useful information to the Police, adding that he had directed the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit to take over the investigation.

He, however, released, on bond, Adesina’s phone, wallet and identity card to The Guardian Crime Correspondent.

According to one of the suspects, Oyetayo, who Adesina gave N2, 000, along with a colleague still at large, said: “I begged him to assist me with money for food. The man rolled down and gave my friend and I N2, 000. Meanwhile, this was in traffic facing Gbagada.

“Unknown to me, some of my friends had opened his vehicle door from the passenger side, stole his mobile phone and escaped.

“Unknown to them, RRS riders had seen them. They arrested Tunde Segun and I. They recovered the phone from Segun immediately.”

The suspects revealed that a new tactic used to rob motorists in Oshodi was to distract them while in traffic for other gang members to steal from their vehicle.

The Police boss disclosed that the Command on Thursday, nabbed 40 crime suspects during a raid of some black spots at Oshodi area, noting that the suspects were being screened before charging those involved in crimes to court.