Moslem, Christian Clerics Run Foul of Lockdown Order, Arrested in Lagos, as Police Recover Stolen Baby in Interstate Bus

From Felix Mordi

The last two weeks was particularly spectacular in the unwavering resolve by the Lagos State Police Command to bring suspected criminals on their knees.

Some of the suspects included a male and female child traffickers, in whose possession was found a one-month-old baby, suspected to have been stolen, Moslem and Christian clerics and a host of others, arrested for flouting the lockdown orders of the federal and Lagos State governments.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, one Patrick Mbama ‘m’ 41 years old and Ogechi Chinonso Ekwebele ‘f’ 30 years old, were spotted in a Toyota Sienna bus, traveling together with a baby of about a month old, suspected to have been stolen. They were said to be coming from Orlu in Imo State on April 26, 2020, when the bus with other five passengers was intercepted for the offense of flouting the interstate travel order.

To the bewilderment of the operatives of Anthony Police Division, who intercepted the vehicle at a pin-down point, the discovery was made that the baby, was stolen and to be delivered to a childless couple in Lagos, identified as Izuchukwu Okafor (m), 51-year-old from Oraifete, Imo state and Cecilia Okafor (f’), 40-year-old. The couple was arrested and, according to the Lagos police boss, during a press conference on Monday, May 11, 2020, the couple would be prosecuted alongside the traffickers, adding that the tot's biological parents have been traced and the baby would be handed over to them same day.

The other five occupants of the vehicle would equally be arraigned for contravening the lockdown order, Odumosu declared.

Also arrested during the period under review were a Moslem and Christian clerics. 40-year-old Rasheed Jimoh and Apostle Shepherd Moses Peter, 61 years old, respectively

Rasheed Jimoh was arrested alongside 13 others in a Mosque at Olushi, Lagos Island, by policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at about 1:10pm on May 9, 2020 while holding a congregational prayer, just as Apostle Shepherd Moses Peter, 61 and 16 others members of his Christ Desire Sabbath Mission, Olodi, Apapa were arrested same day by operatives of Tolu Division in Apapa, holding congregational service.

CP Odumosu further recounted the arrests made, saying "On 29/4/2020, at about 1405hours, acting on credible intelligence, operatives from Area 'G' Command and Oko- Oba Division arrested 65 suspects at 84 Park Hotel, Augusto Close, Oko-Oba. The suspects were arrested for holding a birthday party and consuming some substances suspected to be hard/illicit drugs. The suspects who are within the range of 16 to 45 years, confessed to have left their various homes to the hotel in defiance to the sit at home order. Investigation revealed that 16 out of the 65 suspects belong to various cult groups. Three locally made pistols and two battle axes were recovered from Ibrahim Mubarak ‘m’, a member of buccaneer confraternity. The suspects will be charged to Court.

"On the 9/5/2020, at about 2330hrs, Shasha Division received an information that a group of young men and women, numbering up to 50, were hosting a birthday party at White Courtville Hotel, Egbeda along Akowonjo Road, Animashaun Bus Stop. A team of Police was deployed to the area. The organiser of the party, Blessing Omo ‘f’ 25 years old and 25 others were arrested. The manager of the hotel, one Ikechukwu Emmanuel ‘m’ was equally arrested. The hotel will be sealed by the relevant government agency. The suspects will be charged to Court.

"On 8/5/2020, at about 2200hours, operatives from Area G Command arrested one Balikis Obadina (f),30 years old and 23 others selling food, consuming alcohol and illicit drugs. On sighting the Police, they became violent, hauling stones and bottles on the enforcement teams. The suspects will be charged to Court.

"On 10/5/2020, at about 1000 hours, a team of Policemen from Oke Odo Division were drafted to Ilepo market to stop the traders from opening their shops on a Sunday which violated the guideline issued by Government. Markets are only allowed to open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The enforcement team met a stiff resistance from the traders. We sent reinforcement to the area. 70 male suspects and 25 female suspects were arrested. The suspects will be charged to Court", the CP said.

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