The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday apprehended three “One Chance Robbers” operating in the state and recovered their operational vehicle at Jubilee Bridge around Abule-Egba area of the state.
This was revealed in a press release issued by Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, who stated that the suspected robbers were pursued by residents of the state after they noticed a man being pushed down from their vehicle after robbing him of his valuables.
The press statement added that one of the suspects eventually escaped with a Point On Sale (POS) machine and the rest had been handed over to the Nigerian Police Force for further investigation.
The statement reads: “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) today arrested three notorious 'one chance' armed robbers by Jubilee Bridge around Abule-Egba area of Lagos.
“In a press statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA Mr. Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that they were arrested by LASTMA personnel alongside with their operational vehicle a painted 'T4' commercial bus (APP 406 YE) at U-turn area of Abule-Egba.
“Immediately they were arrested one of them escaped with a P.O.S machine before the arrival of the Police men. Preliminary investigations revealed that they were notorious 'one-chance' armed robbers terrorising the entire Abule-Egba and its environs.
“Investigation further revealed that they were being chased by members of the public after they noticed that a man was pushed down from their vehicle after robbing him of his valuables.
“They drove recklessly in order to evade arrest before they were eventually caught by Lastma officials controlling and managing traffic around the Abule-Egba axis.
“The two suspects were later handed over to Police men from the 'Ile-Epo' Police Division for further investigation. The General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bakare Oki Olalekan however appealed to members of the public particularly commuters to be very vigilant and stop boarding commercial buses by road side popularity called 'So-le',” the statement added.
In a similar incident, SaharaReporters reported in November 2023 how the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said its operatives have arrested about five suspected “One Chance Robbers” operating in Abuja, after stealing over N1.2million from their victims.