Encomium
‘No hope is lost’ – POLICE
THE new Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor has assured Lagosians that the command will keep to its pledge to ensure all the perpetrators of the previous high profile crimes in the state will be arrested and prosecuted.
He stressed further that, contrary to the belief in some quarters, there is nothing like an unresolved crime in the diary of the police as there is no time span for any particular crime.
Speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly on Thursday, October 22, 2015, on the war-like Lekki and Ikorodu robbery months back, the Orekoya kids’ kidnap and that of Toyin Nwosu, the wife of The Sun newspaper Deputy Managing Director, Steve Nwosu, the Imo born cop stated convincingly that all hope is not lost yet on the cases as police have not folded their arms and they can’t even afford it. He added that such cases can’t be swept under the carpet.
He, therefore, appealed to the general public to exercise patience and also cooperate with the police in their investigations that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime who’re yet to be apprehended.
“First, let me clear that impression that there is an unresolved crime. There is nothing called that in our record because there is no time span for any crime as far as policing is concerned. So far a crime has been committed, it’s already on record and must be investigated until we get to the root of the matter. So, there is nothing like unresolved crime at all.
“At times, crimes that were committed in the 70s can still be resolved in this century.
“The Lekki and Ikorodu robberies you’re talking about are still under investigation. Even the recent bank robbery in Festac Town. All these cases can’t be swept under the carpet. I can assure you, whoever is behind those crimes will be apprehended and prosecuted. So, we will not rest until all the hoodlums are arrested and brought to book.
“One thing is that you wouldn’t know what the robbers are going through because you’re not one of them. Do you think they are enjoying life because they have the whole money? No, they’re not enjoying anything because their minds are not at rest. Even when they see any policeman that’s not even looking at their side, they will think he is after them because of their guilty conscience.
“As far as God liveth, all these hoodlums will be apprehended and be made to face the full wrath of the law. And as it’s rightly said, everyday is for the thief but one day is for the owner. And we’re the ones representing the owners of the property. So, by God’s grace we will get them arrested soon and they will be paraded and interviewed publicly.”
Asked to shed light on the development concerning the kidnap of Orekoya kids and the recent kidnap of Steve Nwosu’s wife, Toyin, he said, “There is no development yet. Like I have said, there is nothing like an unresolved crime. We are not folding our arms on any crime be it recent or not. We’re still investigating all the crimes, but people can’t expect the police to reveal their investigation strategy. If we do that, that means we may not get our mission accomplished at the end of it all.”
On Thursday, March 12, 2015, some deadly armed robbers stormed Admiralty Way, Lekki, Lagos, an attacked a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) carting away about N20 million. In the process, killed three policemen and a female fish seller, Sarah Ibikunle, 15.
Also, a similar incident was repeated in Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, Lagos on June 24, when an armed robbery gang, numbering about 20 terrorised Ebute Ipakodo and descended on two financial institutions in the area Zenith Bank and First Bank, carting away about N100 million.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2015, the three out of four Orekoya kids Aderomola, Adedamola and Daramola were kidnapped by a nanny, Mary Akinloye, who had since been arrested and detained by the police.
Equally, some of the hoodlums that perpetrated the Lekki and Ikorodu bank robberies have been arrested, weeks back. Not only that, they have also confessed to the crime while investigations are still in progress concerning those at large among the deadly gang.
- TADE ASIFAT
