The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has ordered that two policemen, a sergeant and an inspector, be detained for sleeping on duty and losing their rifles to armed robbers.
The two policemen, who were attached to a biscuit company at Apapa, were attacked at the company’s premise, while sleeping. The robbers, after beating the policemen black and blue, left with their service rifles. The attack on the company would be the second.
The robbers, who attacked the policemen with an iron rod, also beat up the company’s private security guards and driver. The incident happened on March 30.
When our correspondent visited the biscuit company, residents in the area explained that the robbers got into the company’s premises through the waterway. They came in a speed boat. They arrived around 10pm and started shooting sporadically.
Some of the workers, who were on night duty, hurriedly left what they were doing and scampered for safety as bullets begin to fly.
The robbers, who were fully armed, positioned themselves in different locations within the company. The guards were said to have been tied to a pole and given a severe beating.
A lotto agent, who simply identified himself as Abiodun said: “The last time robbers came to the company, they carted away money, phones and laptops. When the robbers came on that Thursday, they started shooting right from the shore. Their gunshot lasted for minutes before they gained access into company.
“It was after the robbers had left that we saw the two policemen being led out of the company premises by some workers. The policemen had serious injuries all over their bodies. We learnt that the robbers disarmed the policemen and went away with their service rifles.”
Abiodun continued: “The two mobile policemen were battling to stay alive. My suggestion to the police authority is to patrol waterways in Lagos, in order to prevent further robberies.”
A worker in the company, who refused to disclose his name, said: “The robbery was a bad experience for many of us. When we heard the gunshots, we thought it was the normal gunshots that we used to hear around here. It not until we saw the gunmen inside our company, shooting like they were in an American movie, that we became alarmed. They ordered everybody to lay face-down. They demanded for the days’ sales. They collected our phones and laptops. It was from where I was lying on the ground, that I noticed two among the robbers dragging a bag to the riverside. Those in the boat shouted at the ones dragging the bag to hurry. After the operation, they told the policemen, never to attempt to stop their operation when next they come to the company. They threatened to kill anyone who tries to stop them next time they come to the company.”
A source said: “The robbery happened at a biscuit company located at Apapa. A sergeant and an inspector, attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU), were attacked by armed robbers while they were sleeping. The policemen normally do escort duty for the company. They used to escort expatriates working with the company. When the policemen and company driver returned that fateful day, it was late and they were tired. They told themselves that they needed a rest. They have a room where they used to rest in the company. The driver, who used to take them around during escort duty, also went to sleep with them. In the night, armed robbers came through water. The robbers found the policemen sleeping. They collected their rifles and gave them severe beatings, including the driver.
They tied the private security guards of the company and locked the policemen in a room. They left with the police rifles. The two policemen were later detained by police command. The policemen were beaten with an iron rod. The company was robbed.”
Determined to catch the robbers, detectives from Lagos State Police Headquarters, went to Apapa and embarked on intense investigation.
A few days later, the rifles were recovered and four suspects arrested.
A police source said that detectives trailed the suspects to their various hideouts. One suspect was first arrested and used as a bait to catch others.
The police source said: “ The suspects hid the police rifles in the creeks; between Lagos and Ogun states.”
Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olarinde Famous Cole, stated that investigation is ongoing.
