Police arrest airport taxi passenger for attempted car snatching

The operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 35-year-old passenger for allegedly attempting to snatch an airport taxi from the driver.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Hundeyin said the case was reported to the Alausa Police Division by the taxi driver at about 1:40 a.m. on June 11.

He noted that the driver said that at about 1:20 a.m., on June 11, while on driving service at Chevron area of Ajah, he was stopped by the suspect, pretending to be a passenger.

He quoted the taxi driver as saying that the suspect requested that he took him to Fela Shrine in Agidigbi, Alausa area of Ikeja, and on conclusion on the fare, they both started the journey to the destination.

The police spokesman noted: “On getting to the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, by 7UP Alausa Ikeja, the suspect, who was sitting beside him suddenly brought out a knife from his bag and attacked him in an attempt to snatch his Toyota Camry car.

“In the process, the driver sustained a deep knife cut on his hand while trying to struggle with the suspect.

“He quickly raised an alarm, where some good Nigerians came to his rescue, while the suspect took to his heels.

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“However, after a hot chase, he was later arrested by Anti-Crime team of Alausa Police Division.”

Hundeyin that the suspect was taken to the station with the car as an exhibit, adding that an investigation was ongoing.

He said in another development, a 28-year-old man, who had been parading himself as military personnel with the uniform of his friend serving in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was arrested for impersonation.

Hundeyin stated that the fake soldier was arrested last Friday at about 5:45 p.m., by operatives from Ilemba Hausa Division, while on Surveillance patrol at Jinadu Street in Ajangbadi.

He said the suspect was dressed in a complete army camouflage uniform and riding a black unregistered motorcycle when he was arrested.

The police spokesperson disclosed that on sighting the policemen, the suspect abandoned the motorcycle and took to his heels but the officers gave him a chase and arrested him.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is not a soldier and the army camouflage uniform belongs to his friend, who is a military officer serving in Maiduguri,” Hundeyin noted.

The Star