MICHAEL AKINOLA 

The Divisional Police Officer, Alausa Division, CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda, has demonstrated outstanding bravery by leading a sting operation at night at the Otedola bridge and busting armed robbery kingpin, Tochuckwu Nonso, 29, a.k.a ThugLife.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that CSP Abaniwonda displayed rare gallantry just after two months she resumed as the DPO, Alausa Division.

The incessant incidences of armed robbery at the bridge had been a challenge for commuters and passersby over a period and she decided to end such within the Alausa, Ikeja axis.

CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda knew the risks involved but the desire to serve humanity and save lives moved her into action. She was said to have mobilized her Police officers and hired a 14-seater commercial bus, which they used. They moved to the bridge around 10pm in an undercover mission to end incidences of armed robbery under the bridge.

According to Police sources, when they got to the black spot under the bridge,  the driver deliberately stopped the bus under the instruction of CSP Abaniwonda, who came out and pretended to be making calls to get attention of their target-Thuglife and his gang members, who were hiding under the bridge tunnel and it paid off.

While CSP Abaniwonda was making calls expressing disappointment about the breakdown of their vehicle, the robbery kingpin, Thuglife and one of his gang members, who were watching her, came out from the tunnel under the bridge with dangerous weapons to rob the passengers.

The robbery kingpin first accosted  Abaniwonda to snatch her phone, which fell down while they were dragging it and she held Thuglife on his leg waiting for her officers to react. It was then that he used a cutlass, attacked her and his colleague picked her phone, which fell down and they ran back to the tunnel with her phone.

During the operation, CSP Abaniwonda sustained injuries but she did not relent as she mobilized her officers and further gathered intelligence, which eventually led to the arrest of the robbery kingpin, Thuglife, alongside two other members of the gang, Chidera Christopher, 25, and Richard Etim, 25.

The operation was led by Supol Alawode Adekunle and Thuglife was arrested in a bar, where he was doing medicure opposite the popular hotel, known as Super G, in Lambe area of Ogun State, where he usually lodges with the girlfriend after their robbery operations.

The three suspects, Thuglife, Christopher and Etim, were arrested and detained at the Alausa Division, where they are undergoing interrogation over their criminal activities under the Otedola bridge over the years.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspects by operatives from the Alausa Division led by CSP Abaniwonda. The suspects have made confessional statements.

The last sting operation was not the first time CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda had displayed such bravery and capacity as an intelligent senior Police Officer. Over the years, she had served as DPO in various Divisions and Commands in Lagos State and had demonstrated that she has capacity with less supervision. She may have ended the incidences of armed robbery operations under the Otedola bridge in Lagos State.

CSP Tokunbo Abaniwonda perfectly fit into the words of the great philosopher,  Sidney Sheldon, who said, “My heroes are those who risk their lives everyday to protect our world and make it better – Police, Firefighters and members of Armed Forces”.