GOING beyond its statutory duty of traffic management to show resilence in ensuring a safer metropolis, the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) operatives arrested two suspected one-chance robbers terrorising commuters across the state and rescued a female victim inside their car around the Pedesbytrian Church axis of Yaba.
The suspects, Monday Amhe and a lady simply identified as Joy, were apprehended and handed over to the Sabo Divisional Police Station for immediate prosecution.
LASTMA General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba, who confirmed the development, yesterday, said the duo were arrested by a team of the agency personnel from Somolu Zone while on patrol monitoring traffic around the Yaba axis.
He said, “Our officers on patrol and with the help from passersby chased and apprehended a Toyota Corolla saloon car (FST 60 RJ) after a lady at the back seat was heard shouting kidnappers! kidnappers!! kidnappers after the bridge coming towards Yaba from Jibowu.”
“The driver with the lady at the front seat were immediately apprehended while the woman who shouted kidnappers quickly got down and explained that immediately she joined the car from Maryland going to Apapa, a lady beside the driver collected her phone with other valuables and she shouted after noticing that they were ‘one-chance’ kidnappers,” he added.
According to Oreagba, during interrogation, Amhe confessed that he and his arrested accomplice, Joy, were one-chance robbers.
He added that they operate by picking passengers along Ikorodu road and robbing them of their valuables before discharging them at any location of their choice.
The LASTMA boss further disclosed that Joy in her confessional statement confirmed that it was the driver (Monday Amhe) that introduced her to the business and she didn’t hesitate after their first trip.
Oreagba, however, cautioned members of the public to be extra vigilant and extra careful when boarding private or commercial buses.
