The Lagos State Police Command has
apprehended Ibrahim Balogun, a 25-year-old man accused of perpetrating a series
of murders in Somolu, Bariga and Fadeyi in the state.
PUNCH Metro had reported on June 25,
2012, that Balogun also known as Small Jpron, was declared wanted following a
gang-related violence between Shaggy Boys and Downtown Boys which left at least
five people dead in Ilaje, Bariga.
Balogun, who also goes by the pseudonym,
Asarailu, which means death in Arabic, is said to be the deputy gang leader of
Downtown Boys and a member of a sect, Eiye Confraternity also known as EFCC
Boys.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Balogun was
arrested on Bawahala Street near Pedro Police Station on Saturday.
A reliable police source narrated the
circumstances that led to Balogun’s arrest to our correspondent.
He said, “On Friday, around 11:30am, Yusuf
Adebowale, a resident of Somolu, took a commercial motorcycle to FirstBank
branch in Fadeyi to withdraw N100, 000. As he was withdrawing the money from
ATM, the okada rider, later identified as Dare, informed Balogun and
his gang.
“As Adebowale left the bank, just a few
metres away, Balogun and three other gang members attacked him and stole
the money, phone and a wristwatch.
“Adebowale reported the matter at Onipanu
Police Station and also told youths in the area about his ordeal. Less than an
hour later, Dare, the okada rider, was apprehended by residents and
taken to the police station where he confessed.
“Later that night, he led us to Balogun’s
hideout but Balogun was not around. One of the policemen, identified as Abu,
however released Dare without authorisation.”
Our correspondent learnt that the following
day, around 11:30am, Balogun and four others allegedly went to rob residents of
Bawahala Street and a woman alerted the police.
The police source said, “In broad daylight,
Balogun and four gang members, heavily armed, went to rob. We received a
distress call and policemen headed by Inspector Smart, rushed down to the
scene.
“The four others escaped but Balogun was
arrested and taken to Pedro Police Station where he identified himself as
Ibrahim Oriyomi Folarin.”
Our correspondent learnt that the policemen
could not identify Balogun even though the police had declared him wanted.
However, scores of residents stormed the police station and quickly identified
him.
It was learnt that there was pandemonium at
the station as residents who had fallen victims to Balogun and his gang asked
the police to hand him over.
Youths in the area were said to have brought
a tyre and petrol which they threatened to set the suspect ablaze.
But the Special Anti-Robbery Squad took
Balogun away and this restored normalcy to the station.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the
state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident to our correspondent
on the telephone.
She said Balogun had been on police wanted
list for a long time.
“I just spoke to the officer in charge of
SARS and he confirmed the incident to me. He said the suspect (Balogun) is
accused of murders, attempted murders and robberies,” she said.
