A 50-year-old suspected leader of a ‘one chance’ robbery gang, Matthew Tokeme who is currently being investigated by the Lagos State Police Command, has revealed that he started operating a one chance syndicate two weeks ago.
According to the father of four, who owns a Sienna bus with registration number APP488FH, “I live in number 2 Olawoye Street, at Sango. My friend bought the Sienna bus for me to use for transportation but I started using it for one chance.
We are three in number who usually go for operations. We ply Abule-Egba Ifako-Ijaye route from the hours of five to six in the morning when workers and traders are going to their place of work. We pick passengers at the bus stop.”
Explaining further, Tokeme said, “for instance passengers who are going to Victoria Island board our vehicle but when we get to a particular location, we stop and dispossess the victims of their valuables. We don’t use guns, if the victims are very stubborn we threaten them till they part with their phones and laptops. We carry only one passenger at a time while my gang members sit like passengers.
I haven’t made much from the operations. When we went for the first operation it was successful and then we went for another.
The second operation I got a laptop and phone. We didn’t collect money from anyone because she was having just N700. I sold the phone N5,000 while the laptop was sold N20, 000.
We are three who usually go for the operation. I don’t know where my gang members stay but I communicate with them through the phone. I have given the police their phone numbers but they can’t get them. We don’t know each other’s houses, we only meet at the bus stop.
The Police arrested me after they tracked the vehicle plate number. I was in the house when police arrested me and I am from Bayelsa.”
Confirming the arrest, Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana said that “the suspect Matthew Tokeme was arrested after police received information from members of the public that some armed robbers were sighted along Agidingbi Road operating in a Toyota Sienna bus attacking and robbing unsuspecting victims of their valuables”.
“Sequel to the receipt of the information, operatives from the Rapid Response Squad swung into action, the vehicle was intercepted and the suspect arrested. Investigation is ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang who are at large.”, He stated.
