SARS Nabs Five Armed Robbery Suspects

The police in Lagos have arrested  five suspected armed robbers, who allegedly ambushed travellers arriving from overseas, shortly after they leave the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja.

ASP Ozoani Damasus, the deputy spokesman of the Lagos state Police Command, confirmed the arrest to newsmen yesterday.

Damasus said that the robbery suspects were arrested after they were engaged in a gun battle with officers and men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

According to him, their arrest followed a tip-off by informants of the gang’s illicit activities.

He said that two members of the gang were first arrested at Alagbado area on Friday, and that they led the police to the hideout of other members of their syndicate.

The police spokesman said that three other members of the gang were arrested on Saturday at Sango-Ota, Ogun, with serious injuries sustained during the shoot-out.

Damasus explained that the suspects usually keep surveillance at the airport for possible targets and trail them to an isolated area were they would dispossess them of their valuables.

He said that items recovered from the suspects included a pistol, a double barrel, a single barrel gun and 35 cartridges.