Three persons namely Ebuka Ekujere, Monsuru Onanuga, and Segun Alao have been arrested by Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged phone theft.
The arrested culprits
According to The Nation, three persons have been arrested by Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged phone theft. Their names were given as Ebuka Ekujere, Monsuru Onanuga, and Segun Alao.
They met their waterloo in the hands of security operatives at 1:20pm on Friday, around Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, after they allegedly snatched a phone belonging to a passenger in a tricycle.
It was learnt that Ekujere who boarded the same tricycle with the passenger, removed the phone from the owner’s pocket and hid it on the seat. Onanuga and Alao were said to have seen him, but they kept mum and later collected N3,000 from Ekujere for not giving him out.
According to the police, Ekujere, who lives on Ezeagu Street in Ajegunle, said the other two suspects knew he was a thief. The police quoted him as saying that he usually settled them whenever they caught him in the act. The suspects were caught, while arguing on how to share the loot.
In his statement, Ekujere said: “I boarded a tricycle at Eko Hotel roundabout to Obalende and in front of Eko Hotel gate, I removed a handset from a passenger’s pocket and dropped it on the seat.
“Not knowing that his phone has been stolen, the passenger alighted by the hotel.
“But Alao and Onanuga who saw me when I picked the handset, joined me in the tricycle.
“Both of them demanded for settlement and I gave them N3,000 but Onanuga further attempted to collect the phone and my money.
“Then, I engaged them in a verbal confrontation and this attracted the tricycle rider.
“Having explained what transpired to him, he held me and handed me over to RRS operatives stationed in front of Eko Hotel.”
Other suspects denied knowing Ekujere is a thief, but admitted that they collected N3,000 from him.
Onanuga, who claimed that he is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jakande Branch, said he was on assignment at Eko Hotel round about to regulate traffic. He denied knowing Ekujere before the incident, adding that he was not his accomplice.
Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), warned residents against aiding and abetting crime.