Lagos: Police bust armed gangs targeting Bolt, Uber drivers

The police in Lagos State have busted different gangs of armed robbers who targeted and killed private commercial vehicle operators like Bolt, Uber, Lagride, and others in the state.

Members of these gangs were reportedly responsible for the killings of private commercial vehicle operators in different parts of Lagos.

The police also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the arrested suspects during the period under review.

This is just as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, revealed that the command prosecuted offenders for two thousand one hundred and seventy-six (2176) offences in the last quarter of 2024 and early 2025.

The police boss, while briefing newsmen at the state command headquarters on Saturday, also stated that three policemen lost their lives during the period under review.

Forty-three suspects were arrested for different criminal activities, including armed robbery, cultism, murder, child abuse, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and others.

The police boss revealed how gangs of suspects contacted Uber and other private commercial vehicle operators to rob them of their vehicles and kill them.

The police boss said, “On the 9th January, 2025 at about 0000 hrs, a case of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder was reported.

One Emeka Akwara ‘m’ 19yrs, David Segun, ‘m’ 21yrs, Samuel Ariori ’m’ 21yrs and Lukman Ariori ‘m’ 19yrs ordered an Uber at Chevron in the Lekki area – en route to Obalende.

On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, at that point, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times on the neck. Unfortunately, they were unable to snatch the vehicle.

With the intervention of Good Samaritans within the environment, two suspects were immediately arrested and were handed over to police operatives attached to Lion Building.

Investigation further led to the arrest of the other two fleeing suspects of the dangerous gang in the Chevron area of Lagos.”

CP Ishola also added that, “Another Uber driver was killed in such a circumstance. We investigated and brought to book one Edmond Julius Abdoulaye and one Saturday Okey in connection with the crime.

The Toyota Camry was recovered and handed over to the family. The case was charged to court but unfortunately, the driver was killed.

Just two days ago, you see four young men blindfolded. The four of them flagged down a ride and killed the driver of the Uber.”

The police boss warned, “I would like to tell Lagosians, especially people involved in this Uber thing, Taxify, Lagride, and all these services. Be wary of your passengers.

If it is possible, don’t carry more than one passenger at a time and insist such a fellow is searched and made to sit in the front with you. This is our advice.

We are also, in the course of the month, going to summon all drivers in such activities to give them some security tips so that they will not be falling victim to these criminals.

This is just the third of its kind reported or detected in three months. We don’t know how many have happened. Such are the cases of brutalities around us now.”

The Lagos police boss also lamented, “Unfortunately, cases of murder through cultism and cult-related activities were on the increase.

As a responsive force, we always arrest perpetrators. But we don’t believe in jungle justice here.

On the 17th July 2024 at about 1700hrs, one Awalu ‘m’ and Emmanuel ‘m’ were brutally murdered at Ijora Badia by rival cult members.

On the 15th October, 2024 upon intelligence, one Samuel Ojenuga ‘m’ aged 22yrs, a member of Aye Confraternity, was arrested.

He confessed to the killing of about 12 Eiye Confraternity members at Orita School Ijora Oloye Area of Lagos.

His accomplice, one Abdullahi Yusuf of the same cult group, also confessed to the killing of three persons named BIG SAM ’m’, Emmanuel ‘m’ and Okokobovbi ‘m’ at Railway Crossing in Ijora Badia Lagos.”

Also, “On the 27th of December, 2024 at 14 Idunsagbe Street, Lagos Island, information was received that a bag was sighted on the rooftop at this address.

Two AK 47 rifles, breach number 52573, 4004855 and 07003-853 K2 assault rifle, all without magazine and ammunition.”

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