By Daniel Edu
Jeremiah Adeniran, an e-hailing driver in Lagos State, was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for robbing female passengers during rides. Adeniran revealed that he used to decline ride orders from male passengers so that he could target and rob his female passengers instead. He claimed that the removal of the fuel subsidy led to financial hardship, which pushed him into committing these crimes.
The suspect, who identified himself as a graduate of Accounting from the North American University, stated that he collaborated with two unidentified friends for his criminal activities. During the police parade of suspects at the headquarters in Ikeja, he admitted to having made a total of N700,000 from these robberies.
Adeniran narrated that he was apprehended in Ikotun after his last operation, which involved a female passenger he picked up late at night. He and his accomplices targeted female passengers, and he would decline rides from male passengers to execute their schemes.
The arrest came about when one of the stolen phones from a previous victim was traced back to Adeniran. The police discovered the phone with one of his friends, and upon seeing the victim again in a shop, the police were alerted, leading to Adeniran’s arrest.
The suspect further claimed that he and his accomplices had targeted and robbed at least four victims. He urged youths in the country to be patient and seek legitimate means of earning money instead of resorting to crime.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that efforts were underway to apprehend the other fleeing accomplices involved in the crimes. Adeniran was arrested while attempting to sell the stolen items at the BRT Market in Ikotun. The police also recovered his operational Toyota Camry Saloon car and a knife used during the robberies.
In addition to Adeniran’s case, the police also paraded three suspects in connection with the killing of Inspector Sunday Apochi, an officer attached to the Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos State. These suspects were identified as members of the Aiye Confraternity.
Moreover, the police apprehended a truck driver, Samson Olusegun, along with three other suspects, Jimoh Iyanu, Opeyemi Akinloye, and Hazimi Abdulakeem, for stealing goods worth N60 million. Olusegun was supposed to transport the goods, but he conspired with others to divert the truck and sell the stolen goods.
The police also conducted a raid on drug joints in Isheri North, resulting in the arrest of five suspects and the recovery of various illicit drugs. Operation Flush, led by Commissioner of Police Idowu Owohunwa, aims to tackle crime resurgence in some parts of Lagos.
Several other suspects were paraded for various crimes, and they will face prosecution in court.
