The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Tuesday, paraded a commercial boat helmsman for allegedly causing the death of 12 of his passengers.
He identified the helmsman as Bimbo Elebiju.
Odumosu said the victims drowned after the wave of a ship sailing along the Kirikiri waterfront caused the boat, which engine had been switched off during an argument between Bimbo and his passengers over the fare, to capsize.
The CP while parading Bimbo at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said , “On July 29, 2020, around 5.45p.m, our marine operatives received a distress call that a commercial boat with the inscription: ‘Mount Zion Transport’, fitted with 150HP Yamaha outboard engine, which was conveying 20 passengers from Kirikiri to Badagry, drifted towards a stationary barge and capsized along the Kirikiri waterfront.
“Five passengers were rescued, while 12 corpses were recovered. Three people are still missing. The helmsman, Bimbo Elebiju, swam to safety. Investigation revealed that the accident was caused by the deliberate act of the helmsman. There was an argument between the deckhand and the passengers as to the transport fare.
“Bimbo insisted on N1,500 per passenger and the passengers said they would only pay N1,200 each. Because of the N300 difference, the helmsman turned off the engine on a turbulent waterfront. A big ship passed and stirred the water, creating a wave that made the boat to drift towards the stationary barge.
The suspect was trailed to his hideout and arrested after the survivors of the accident gave the true account of what happened. He will be charged.”
In another development, the police commissioner said a self-acclaimed traditional ruler, Lateef Olarinde, 72, and four suspected hoodlums have been arrested for allegedly causing mayhem in the Satellite Town area of the state, leading to the death of some residents.
The other suspects were identified as Yusuf Olarinde, 38; Sanni Olarinde, 37; Ayomide Lateef, 29; and Kazeem Sadiku, aka Alawori, 35.
Odumosu said, “The principal suspect, who claimed to be the ruler of the Oguntedo community, had been mobilising armed men to unleash terror on indigenes of Ashaogun community over a period of time. The attacks usually come with sporadic gunfire and killing of innocent persons.
“After the attacks, the suspects usually go into hiding. On March 18, 2020, and July 18, 2020, the same set of people killed one person and injured several others. It was also revealed that the suspects had participated in a series of robbery operations in Satellite Town and its environs.
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“The DPO, Satellite Town Police Station, Chike Oti, ensured the capture of the criminal dynasty of the self-acclaimed traditional ruler of Oguntedo community. Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be arraigned as soon as investigation is concluded.”
Also paraded on Tuesday were some members of kidnap syndicates.
They included Ayeni John, 45; Tijani Gafari, 38; Ojonla Oyetakin, 30; and Paul Orimisan, 38, whom the CP said were terrorising and kidnapping Lagos residents plying the waterways.
The suspects were said to have kidnapped a Syrian along the Eko Atlantic waterway in Lagos.
The Lagos State Police commissioner also paraded nine suspected traffic robbers, Ismail Tosin, 23; Lukman Nojeem, 18; Segun Ade, 20; Rafiu Jamiu, 29; Lateef Yusuf, 28; Mabinuola Wale, 20; Taiwo Hazan, 19; Adeleke Oluwasegun, 17; and Adeniji Saliu, 18; three robbery suspects, Dare Hassan, 35; Ajanaku Azeez, 35; and Clarkson Oritshejubemi, 36.
One Emeka Okun, 28, was apprehended for allegedly stealing batteries from telecommunication companies, while Shapraku Umade, 19; Moses Anzuur, 19; and James Tsebee, 20, were arrested for dealing in illegal arms.
Ojewole Saburi, 26; and Olawale Samson, 28, were nabbed for unlawful possession of firearms, while a fake soldier, Yemi Ayeni, 32, was charged for assaulting a policewoman, Inspector Martina Onyeacho, in a footage that went viral recently.
Odumosu revealed that in the last one month, the command had arrested 27 suspected armed robbers and 15 traffic robbers, while successfully foiling 22 traffic robbery attempts.
Two robbery suspects, he said died during exchange of gunfire with the police.
Also, he said four suspects were arrested for kidnapping and another 19 for murder while the command prevented seven suicide attempts.
