A policeman serving in Oyo State Police Command, Corporal Akintunde Abel, on his way home from night duty, shook fatigue off recently when he pursued and arrested two of three robbers after they had disposed a lady of handbag at Ashi area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
His efforts have also been complemented by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ibadan, who followed up the case and arrested the third suspect. The suspects are Babatunde Adeniyi, Ogundeji Sunday and Adeitan Segun.
Crime Reports learnt that the victim, Temitayo (surname withheld), was on her way to office on June 8, when she was attacked by the three-man gang operating on a motorcycle. According to the lady, “I was on my way to work at about 6:40a.m when three men on a bike blocked my way.
“The one at the back got down and pushed me. I got injured and he took my bag.
“As they were going, I was shouting ‘help! help!!’ A man who was in car heard me and I discovered he was a policeman who just left night duty and was on his way home. He asked what happened and I told him I had just been robbed.
“He asked me to enter the car and I did. He started chasing the bike and was able to push one of them off the motorcycle. He didn’t stop because my bag was still with the other two. He went after them and caught up with them at Favos area. My bag was recovered.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, who praised the solo effort of the policeman, described the suspects as notorious for snatching bags around Ashi, Bodija and Basorun area of Ibadan, adding that the motorcycle used for the operation had been recovered.
Segun (26), who was later arrested by SARS operatives, disclosed that his gang members took off from a club at Mokola area, went to Beere area to smoke marijuana before commencing on the attacks on victims.
According to him, “Sunday and I were at City Centre Club when he introduced Adeniyi to me. Sunday said Adeniyi brought a motorcycle and suggested that we should use the motorcycle to carry out bag snatching at dawn from those going out early. We left City Centre for Beere area to smoke hemp. From there, we went to Agugu area and snatched a bag from a lady. We found N1,700 and a phone in it.
“We left for Ashi area where we snatched another bag, which I handed over to Sunday who was sitting between me and the rider, Adeniyi. Unfortunately for us, we were pursued by a policeman. I was pushed off the motorcycle and got injured. I quickly stood up and hid behind a shrub, dabbing my wounds with my shirt.
“I have no excuse for my actions but I know it is the devil’s work.”
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