I’ve stolen over 240 mobile phones says, Lagos pickpocket thief
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
The suspected pickpocket thief, Ayomide Sikiru
The men of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command on Sunday 21/2/21 has arrested one suspected pickpocket who disclosed that he has stolen over 240 mobile phones from Lagos commuters.
According to a press statement by the Command’s spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, “The pickpocket, Ayomide Sikiru, 27, a resident of Akala, Mushin, was arrested around 10:00 p.m. after he successfully picked a Tecno Camon 12 from the hand bag of an elderly woman when she was trying to board a commercial bus to Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.”
The suspect, after stealing the phone, tried to alight from the bus but was restrained by a passenger who challenged him to return the phone he stole. He denied stealing any phone until RRS officers stationed at Iyana Oworo searched and recovered the phone along with an iphone 7 and another mobile phone from his bag. The owners of the phones had been contacted immediately.
Sikiru disclosed that he has been in the business of pickpocketing for a year and two months after learning the illegal “business” in 15 days from one Sakiru. He also confessed that he operates only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The RRS operatives in compliance with the order of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu on enforcement of the curfew and COVID-19 protocols, impounded nine (9) vehicles in Agege. The nine vehicles were impounded by the Commander, Rapid Response squad (RRS), CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who was also in Agege at early hours of Friday 19th February, 2021, to engage community stakeholders on the security situation in Agege area.
The impounded vehicles included six (6) danfo, a Toyota Hilux, Honda Accord and Ford pickup.
Their registration numbers are: GGE 240 XZ, SMK 696 YA, AAA 869 YD, LSD 322 GE, KTU 466 FH, JJJ 877 YC, AAA 773 XH, EPE 241 XZ and an unregistered Volkswagen transporter.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the cases to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for proper investigation, while the owners of the impounded vehicles be immediately charged to the mobile courts at Taskforce office Oshodi. CP Hakeem Odumosu however vowed to remain resolute in fighting against crimes and criminality in the state.
