Interesting Details Of How The Ikorodu Bank Robbers Were Arrested Red Handed

Wonder Four members of the robbery gang, which unleashed terror on two commercial banks in the Ipakodo area in Ikorodu area of Lagos two weeks ago, have been arrested by the police.

Our correspondent learnt that the suspected robbers were arrested from Okitipupa, Ondo State  and Ikorodu, Lagos State, while three Sport Utility Vehicles allegedly bought from the proceeds of the robbery were recovered.

The suspects’ names were given as  Bright Agbojule , Monday Akpan, the third identified simply as Jafaru, and one Baba Ibeji.

On Wednesday, June 24, the gang, which was reportedly led by a woman, had stormed the Ebute Ipakodo branches of the First Bank and Zenith Bank at about 8.30am and carted away millions of naira in the bank section.

The robbers, who overwhelmed policemen from the Ipakodo division, were said to have carted away more than N60m from the Zenith Bank’s strong room, while N20m were stolen from the FIRST bank’s ATM room.

The suspects, who dared policemen to confront them, later escaped in two speedboats at the Ipakodo jetty.

Four persons, including a bank customer, who were hit by bullets during the one hour operation, were taken to the General Hospital in Ikorodu.

The PUNCH Metro gathered that four members of the gang were arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Team, in an operation involving a SP Abba Kyari former SARS commander  and an officer, DSP James Okeke.

The PUNCH Metro gathered that one of the suspected robbers, a week after the operation, had headed for the Okitipupa area of Ondo State, with a Lexus bought with the proceeds of the robbery.

A police source told PUNCH that the suspect was arrested by soldiers, who were on a stop and search exercise in Ondo State.

It was learnt that the suspect was also found with bundles of new of N1,000 notes with bank seals.

The police source said the arrest was the break that the police needed, adding that the suspect later led policemen to arrest other members of the gang crew.

He said, The soldiers were on a stop and search and they found the suspect, identified only as Baba Ibeji, while on his way to back to his home town in Okitipupa in Ondo State.

Just during a search, they found bundles of new N1,000 notes with bank seals in his bag.

The soldiers, who were also aware of the bank robbery in Lagos, smelt a rat and contacted the Lagos State Police Command on the development research.

The former CP, Kayode  Aderanti, immediately contacted experienced hands in SARS for the interview of the suspect.

 The suspect gave the contacts and names of other suspects. The operatives subsequently mobilized more officers to Ikorodu and made some arrests.

Three suspects were picked up by the police in Ikorodu. Two of them had bought Sport Utility Vehicles with the proceeds.

They all had bought plots of land with their loots. Three vehicles have been recovered for now.

Our correspondent learnt that the suspects would be paraded on Monday  06^th of July 2015 today at the state command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos State.

It was learnt that efforts were still being intensified to get other members of the gang arrested, which reportedly numbered of about 15 of them.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nwosu Kenneth, confirmed the arrests in a mobile text message.

He said, The Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, will parade the suspects on Monday o6th  july 2015, as he hands over to the new CP, Owoseni Fatai at the command headquarters.