The recent traffic robbery incident that occurred at the Alaka area in Surulere, Lagos state on Thursday, August 19 has led to the arrest of nine suspects by the Lagos state police command.
Videos of the robbery incident, including one showing the shattered window of a car after one of the robbers broke in, were circulated online. In response, the police command released a statement through the spokesperson CSP Tunji Ajisebutu. The statement emphasized that such incidents had not occurred in Surulere and other parts of the state for a significant period of time.
CSP Tunji Ajisebutu explained that the robbery incident was a result of a broken-down articulated vehicle at the foot of the Domalong bridge, causing a traffic gridlock. Despite efforts by LASTMA officials to remove the vehicle, the situation escalated, prompting the DPO Surulere to personally lead anti-crime patrol teams to the scene, leading to the arrest of nine suspects.
Furthermore, additional patrol teams were deployed to carry out 24-hour visibility policing of the entire area under the directive of the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu. Ajisebutu highlighted that the command had previously arrested many traffic robbers and remains committed to putting an end to such incidents and other crimes in the state.
He urged the public to provide timely and credible information to the police, assuring that such information would be handled with utmost confidentiality.