According to The Punch Metro News, one of four individuals arrested by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (commonly called the Lagos Task Force) for alleged traffic robbery has admitted to using the proceeds of their crimes on drugs and gambling. Ismail Akinlade, a 26-year-old suspect, confessed during an interrogation following his arrest alongside three accomplices: Rasak Abiodun (25), Adefabi Gbolahan (25), and Rilwan Olaloye (20).
In a statement shared with The Punch Metro on Wednesday, Lagos Task Force spokesperson Gbadeyan Abdulraheem detailed the arrest. He explained that the suspects specialized in robbing motorists during traffic jams. They targeted drivers stuck in congestion, using distraction techniques to steal valuables like phones, bags, and other personal items.
The task force successfully apprehended the suspects in the Mushin area of Lagos after tracing a stolen phone to their hideout in the Idi-Oro neighborhood. Abdulraheem revealed that this breakthrough, combined with additional intelligence, enabled law enforcement to raid the location and arrest the four suspects.
Describing their operation, Abdulraheem explained that the gang handed stolen items to their leader, who would sell them and distribute the proceeds among the group. Akinlade admitted that the money was mostly spent on drugs and gambling.
The spokesperson highlighted the severity of their crimes, noting that the robbers exploited traffic congestion to prey on vulnerable motorists. With the suspects in custody, the task force dismantled a significant network of traffic robbers that had been troubling drivers in the area.
Abdulraheem assured that investigations are ongoing to locate the gang’s leader and uncover any additional members operating elsewhere in the city. He reaffirmed the Lagos Task Force’s commitment to combating such crimes and ensuring the safety of citizens, particularly those navigating traffic during peak hours.
According to one of the Suspect, “Whenever I steal, I give the phone to Number One (now at large) at Mushin, who handles selling our loot. After a while, we return for the cash proceeds, which we spend on drugs and gambling,” he was quoted. Ismail also revealed that they exploited bad portions of roads to carry out their attacks, preying on motorists who were forced to slow down due to the poor road conditions.