According to reports from DAILY POST, the Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of two dismissed soldiers and four other suspects in connection with a string of armed robberies and car thefts across the state.
According to SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Command's spokesperson, the suspected robbery gang specialized in snatching vehicles at gunpoint from motorists and then selling the stolen cars within Lagos.
Hundeyin stated that the arrests were made by the Command's tactical team based in Surulere, following a month-long investigation and intelligence gathering.
Three of the suspects were apprehended in Lagos, while one was arrested in Ilorin. Two vehicles have been recovered so far.
"They have been operating quite a while before their arrest," Hundeyin said.
"They are four in number, two are dismissed soldiers. One was dismissed in 2014 and the other in 2017."
The spokesperson revealed that the gang carried out their crimes while wearing full military uniforms, and their investigation has so far linked them to the theft of 13 vehicles, with two recovered.
In addition to the two dismissed soldiers, the police also arrested another suspect who was employed as a driver and allegedly stole his boss' car on the very day he was hired.
The driver was reportedly caught after taking the stolen vehicle to church for dedication and thanksgiving.
Hundeyin criticized the driver's employer for not conducting proper due diligence before hiring the suspect.
Furthermore, the police arrested a sixth suspect who claimed to be an automobile mechanic.
The mechanic was accused of stealing and selling cars that were given to him for repairs. The buyer of the stolen vehicles from the mechanic was also apprehended.
Hundeyin stated that all the suspects will be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation, and the police are working to recover any other stolen vehicles linked to the criminal ring.