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NIGERIA POLICE FORCE SUSTAINS FIGHT AGAINST KIDNAPPING, ARMED ROBBERY

The Nigeria Police Force has intensified its efforts to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other forms of criminality across the country. According to a press release signed by Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police have successfully rescued numerous victims and apprehended several suspects over the past week. The Force Spokesman stated that coordinated operations were conducted in various states, including Lagos and Kwara States, resulting in the rescue of 13 individuals who had earlier been kidnapped and held for ransom On December 27, 2024, police operatives attached to the Kwara State Command stormed a den of kidnappers in the Idofin-Igbana area, overpowering the kidnappers and rescued 13 victims. ACP Adejobi further noted that on December 28, 2024, police operatives attached to the Lagos State Command arrested two individuals, Lawan Mustapha and Aina Daniel, and recovered one double-barrel rifle, 90 live cartridges, and five model rifles. Additionally, three suspected armed robbers were arrested at GRA Ikeja, with one locally made pistol, four live cartridges, and two cutlasses recovered. Adejobi reiterated that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens. The Force will continue its operations, leveraging all available resources to eradicate these heinous crimes from society. The Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in its mission to create a safer environment for all Nigerians.

HOW WE CAUGHT OYENUSI, MIGHTY JOE – May 7 2022.

An interview with Dr Joseph Itoto-Ogodo, The Ogiribo 1 of Amu-Ogodo, Sapele. Retired Police Inspector Joseph Itoto Ogodo, who was among the crack team of Police detectives that arrested the notorious robbery kingpins of the ‘70s, Ishola Oyenusi; and Mighty Joe in Lagos, turns 88 years. Pa Ogodo tells Adibe Emenyonu how the two gangsters and their cohorts were arrested. He also speaks about his career in the police force You are now 88 years old. Can you tell us about your early life? I was born on April 27, 1934 in Sapele in present day Delta State. I attended First Baptist School, Sapele from 1944 to 1952 where I had my Standard Six Certificate. From there I proceeded to Abbot Commercial institute between 1953 and 1955. I worked briefly with the sawmill department of the African Timber and Plywood (ATP) from 1955 to 1958. I had a brief stint as a Revenue Collector at the then Sapele Urban District Council. That was from 1958-1959. After that I enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in 1959 and went to Police College, Yaba, Lagos. Thereafter, I was posted to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). From all indications you spent most of your career with the police in Lagos. Why? This was because I was in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). At that time, Lagos was the capital of the Southern Protectorate before it became the capital of Nigeria in 1959. With this, there was an influx of people both young and old to Lagos. This large movement of people into the new capital triggered several criminal activities that needed police investigation, being the capital of a new nation. This, of course, was not enough to have made the force keep you for such a long time in Lagos. There must be something unique. Can you tell us what it was? I agree with you. There were several incidents of crime and criminality, but we had two major breakthroughs which may have necessitated my long stay in Lagos, though I also found myself in other states and cities outside Lagos, but only on criminal investigation. Because of the increasing cases of armed robbery and burglary, the then Commissioner of Police, Joseph Adeola constituted a Special Anti-Robbery Squad made up of a team of detectives headed by a Superintendent of Police who was popularly called the ‘Flying Policeman.’ He got the sobriquet because he was a good sprinter and athlete. So when you hear SARS, it is not new. It has been in existence. It was founded many years ago. So he formed the squad known as SARS to investigate the numerous cases of robbery in Lagos. There was this very robbery incident where a young police constable who was just six months in the service was shot dead at Ikeja. It was in connection with a company called Wahum, owned by one of these Asian countries on Allen Avenue. The company went to seek police protection to help convey their staff’s monthly salary. So a constable was assigned to accompany the staffers to the bank to withdraw the cash. He then escorted them back. Coming back from the bank to the company, the security man was hesitant to open the gate for them to drive in. This angered the police constable on escort duty and he went to meet the gateman to ask him why he was causing delay to open the gate for the vehicle to drive in. At that point, armed robbers opened fire and killed him on the spot, while the remaining bank officials scampered for safety into the company premises. The robbers went straight to the vehicle, a Citroen, and fired at the booth, got it open and took the cash box containing £10,000 meant for workers salary and drove off in another waiting car. The matter was reported to the police. We had what was called the Lion Building in Lagos, housing the control room. The control room then called the Robot Cars (cars fitted with communication gadgets to look out for the robbers. Prior to this robbery incident, there was a reported case of car snatching along Ikorodu Road. A young man was robbed of his car at gunpoint. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the snatched car was the same one used to get away by the robbers at the Wahum gate. While investigation was still on after some arrests were made, the police learnt the leader of the robbery gang was Ishola Oyenusi who had been on police wanted list. It was at this time that the then CP constituted an X-squad from the SARS and made available a separate police station for them at Panti in Onikan area of Lagos. This time, all the policemen there were asked to go to other divisions for the X-squad to enable them handle all robbery cases without interference. So as a member of that squad, we were moved to Panti and began the investigation. We were a 10-member investigative team headed by one Superintendent of Police (SP) Oyebisi who hailed from Ibadan then the capital of Western State. In the course of investigation, we knew that members of the robbery gang came from different parts of the country, which first made the investigation cumbersome. Some were from the West, some from the Midwest, while some were from the East. But we were determined to do our duty. In the robbery gang was an Ijebu boy who happened to be the driver in all their robbery operations. There was also a member of the gang called Diokpa who, as gathered, was their armourer and in whose house the proceeds of each robbery was shared. While carrying out further investigation, we got all the gang members and accomplices arrested, including the Administration Officer of Wahum company. All of them gave us useful information. The only person at large was their leader Oyenusi. In fact, they were the ones who revealed to us that Oyenusi was their leader.