Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Command have arrested a traffic robber who allegedly swallowed her victim’s wedding ring after threatening to kill her alongside three other suspected traffic robbers in Oshodi and CMS part of the metropolis.
The ring swallowing suspect, Taofeek Adebayo, aged 19, along with an accomplice, Toheeb Tijani, 20, were arrested in Oshodi-Oke shortly after dispossessing two ladies in a grey Sienna bus of a gold earring and a set of wedding rings. The two other suspects, Samson Oluwa, 20 and Michael Amodu Adamu, 22, were arrested in an all-night sting operation in CMS.
Taofeek Adebayo in company of his gang had on Friday pleaded with two gorgeously dressed ladies in the Sienna bus to assist them with money for food in traffic. The two ladies extended a N100 note to them, which the suspects instantly rejected.
According to the lady driving the bus; “my colleague and I were coming from Anthony and heading to Ilasa for our association’s meeting. Three of them (pointing to the suspects) came near our vehicle. There was traffic and we couldn’t turn anywhere. We were scared. They said we should give them money for food. I reach out to my colleague to give me money.
She gave me N100, which I gave them. They rejected it. One of them said, ‘eleyi kin se owo ti wa’. I told them this is what I have. One of them pulled my left ear and removed my earring. Two of them turned to the other side of my vehicle. They threatened to waste us if we don’t give them money. ‘Where is our money’, they screamed at us. In a hurry to leave our car, they forced my friend to surrender her wedding ring. The yellow guy (pointing to Adebayo) took the first one and swallowed it in our presence. His colleague took the other one”.
When interrogated, Adebayo disclosed, “I swallowed it but I have vomited it and handed it over to Young Boy, the third guy when police were chasing us. I told him to hand over the rings to the ladies so that the police can release us but he absconded with the two rings and earring”.
His accomplice, Toheed Tijani, who sources said was on the watch list of police for snatching a mobile phone from a commuter in traffic earlier in the day stated, ‘I have released the phone to the LASTMA officials standing in Oshodi Oke. They told me that RRS officers were looking for me to arrest me”.
