Lagos Police arrest serial teenage thieves

6 suspected teenage serial thieves in the Oshodi area of Lagos state has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

They suspects include Ganiyu Rahman, 18; Sadiq Adebayo, 15; Timilehin Oluwaseun, 14; Ogundare Moyinoluwa, 18; Toheeb Tijani, 19; and Adeleke Sodiq, 17.

According to Ganiyu Rahman, he has been living under the Oshodi bridge since 2013, adding that his gang has over 50 members.

A police source said, “The suspects were brought in batches to the RRS headquarters in Alausa. They were brazenly dispossessing commuters of their belongings when they were nabbed.”

Rahman they are always around the area looking for handbags, phones, and other valuables to snatch.
“We have over 50 members in my gang. We are always in the Oshodi Oke area all day. Some of us scout for victims to snatch their handbags, phones and other valuables. Most times, we pretend as if we are helping them out with the valuables but we steal from them. We usually work in groups. While the others are helping out, some of us snatch the valuables and run, He said.

“My parents are divorced. I have been sleeping under the bridge in Oshodi since 2013. Sometimes, I worked as a bus conductor and whenever I was not working, I followed my gang members to steal.

“On Friday, we stole Microsoft phone from a lady’s bag. We pretended to be helping the lady to get a bus. But we stole her phone.”

It was gathered that the suspects have been transferred to the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, Alausa.

SP Dolapo Badmos, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, advised parents to monitor their wards.