EXCLUSIVE: Lagos Police Arrest Notorious Trans-border Armed Gang

The Lagos State Police command today arrested and paraded a nine-man trans-border armed gang who specialise in snatching exotic cars from their victims.

The kingpin who was identified as Benard Bongy and his gang members were arrested by a team of operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by their commander, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police.

The suspects were hounded and arrested after they had attacked a police patrol vehicle, beat up the policemen and snatched two AK 47 rifles from the police at Victoria Island.

Other members of the gang were identified as Obinna Eyinna, Emeka Uche aka Small, Chukwuma Akubueze, David Joshua, Ifeanyi Okafor, Kichito Nwachukwu, Moses Ogbu and one Aminu Bobbo, the receiver of the stolen vehicles.

Parading the suspects, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti said, “There was an armed robbery attack on October 9, 2014 at about 5.30pm at the residence of one Albert Omisore at Victoria Island. 

"The case was reported at Bar Beach Police station and later transferred to SARS. On my instructions, operatives of SARS led by SP Abba Kyari swung into action. 

"Through diligent investigation and deployment of advance technology, they were able to track the first suspect Obinna Eyinma who was the gang leader to Jakande Beach, Ajah, Lagos where he was arrested.

“He confessed his involvement in the robbery of the Prado Jeep and other valuables at Victoria Island. Kyari led Ikeja SARS operatives to their criminal hideouts at Obalende and Kuramo beach respectively where the second and eight suspects were arrested.”

Aderanti said the suspects would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

Narrating their modus operandi to journalists, the kingpin, Bongy said, "am a notorious armed robber, I don’t need to lie about it. I was frustrated after I lost my job so I started this gang. We specialise in snatching vehicles from their owners and taking it to Benin Republic for sale. 

"We have robbed a Toyota Camry and a Prado Jeep in Victoria Island from a man and his girlfriend at a nightclub called ‘Why Not’ in Victoria Island. They were drunk, so we attacked them and took away their cars. Five of us carried out the operation.

  “I took the cars to Benin Republic but on my way, the Camry stopped at Mile 2 but I took the Jeep to Benin. A friend of mine called me to say that his neighbour has one new clean car. So we went to do Gbele Gbele in their house and took his car.

"Gbele Gbele means using engine to cut the gate and moving inside the house. We tied the security man, the Aboki, but the police interrupted us but we attacked them and took away their gun. The police used one of my gang members, Obinna to get me that is why I am here.”