The police in Lagos said on Thursday that they had arrested four suspected armed robbers and cultists in spite of an offer of N500,000 bribe.
The spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, said in a statement that the officers who carried out the arrest rejected the half a million naira bribe offered them.
Ajisebutu, a chief superintendent of police, said in the statement that an anti-crime patrol team from Area ‘J’ Command, Elemoro, arrested the suspects during a routine stop and search operation on September 4 at about 12.30 a.m.
The spokesman said that one of the suspects who was simply identified as Timothy, 23 years old, and resident of No. 9, Baale Street, Majek, Ajah, was arrested at General Paint Garden area, Lekki.
He said that one locally-made double barrel gun and two live cartridges, including an expended cartridge packed in a bag, were recovered from the suspect during the operation.
According to the spokesman, another suspect, who claimed to be a cultist with the Aye Confraternity, simply identified as Toheed, 22 years old, was arrested with a live cartridge at the General Paint ghetto area, Ajah at about 12.45 a.m. on September 4.
The image maker further said that two more suspects were arrested for allegedly offering N500,000 bribes to the police to secure the release of the two suspects earlier arrested.
“While one 34-year-old Sunday, resident of 66, Henry Smith Close, Abidjan GRA, Ajah, offered N400,000 cash to secure the release of the first suspect (Timothy), one Akeem, 43 years old, offered the sum of N100, 000 cash to secure the second suspect (Toheed).
“Determined to ensure justice through thorough investigation, the uncompromising police officers in charge of the case rejected the bribe,” he said.
Ajisebutu said the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, commended the professionalism and uncompromising act of the officers, admonishing other officers to emulate the incorruptible ones.
“The commissioner has, however, directed that the case be transferred to the command’s tactical team for further investigations and prosecution,” he said. ##
