Armed robbers seek N25,000 ransom to release stolen items

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested some suspected armed robber for allegedly stealing foreign and local currencies, among other valuables estimated at N1m, from a woman on New Year’s Eve.

The suspects, who also collected the victim’s American visa card, gold trinkets, phone, were said to have called her husband on the telephone afterwards, demanding N25,000 to release the valuables to her.

The case was reported at the Ketu Police Station and was referred to operatives of the RRS, who arrested the suspects.

The 58-year-old woman, identified only as Alhaja, allegedly told the police in her statement that she was robbed at Ketu bus stop, Ketu, around 9pm on December 31, 2017.

She said, “I was going to my house in Ikorodu after visiting my children on New Year’s Eve when I boarded a tricycle heading for Ketu bus stop.

“I alighted close to the Ketu bridge on Ikorodu Road around 9pm. I was the only one, as other passengers had dropped off before reaching the bus stop.

“Immediately I alighted, I was surrounded by five young men, who wielded knives and daggers. They collected my phone and a hand bag containing $800 (N288,000), 400 Qatari Riyal (N39,548), N45,000, an American visa card, a pouch containing gold trinkets and a purse with unspecified amount of money.

“After collecting all I had on me, they let me go. They then started using my phone to call my husband that I should bring N25,000 to collect my phone and all they took from me. When the harassment became unbearable, I decided to block the line.”

She said she reported the matter at the Ketu Police Station from where it was referred to the RRS.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )