Lagos Police Bust One-Chance Syndicate, Arrest 21 Suspects, Recover 25 Vehicles – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating across the state, arresting 21 suspects and recovering 25 vehicles linked to various criminal activities.

Addressing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olorundare Jimoh, said the breakthrough followed intensified crime-prevention strategies and intelligence-driven operations across Lagos.

He noted that sustained intelligence from members of the public has continued to play a critical role in crime prevention, as the Command on Monday also issued fresh security tips to Lagosians on how to avoid falling victim to one-chance robbery, urging residents to remain vigilant when boarding commercial vehicles.

According to him, eight additional suspects were recently arrested in connection with the one-chance robbery gang, bringing the total number of suspects apprehended to 21. Four more operational vehicles used by the syndicate were also recovered, in addition to two earlier seized vehicles.

“The gang operated as a double-edged criminal network,” Jimoh said. “If victims cooperated, they were robbed and released. If they resisted or appeared suspicious, they were detained, taken to a shrine, and their families contacted for ransom under the guise of kidnapping.”

He explained that the criminals typically deployed multiple vehicles across the state, targeting unsuspecting commuters, luring them in under the pretext of public transportation before robbing or extorting them.

The Commissioner urged residents to be vigilant, warning against boarding vehicles already occupied by two or three passengers whose destinations are unclear. “In a genuine public transport setting, passengers should be asking where the vehicle is going — not the other way round,” he said.