Armed robbery: So-Safe arrests man with fake pistol

Etim Ekpimah

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, known as So-Safe Corps, has arrested a man who specialises in robbing victims using a gas lighter disguised as a pistol in Ogun.

This information was disclosed in a press statement issued by the State Commander of the Corps, Commander (Dr) Soji Ganzallo, through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

The statement added that on 22 March 2024, at about 21:35 hours during a routine patrol, officers of the Corps, Agbara Area Command, under Assistant Commander Adebesin Lukmon, apprehended Oluwatosin Ayinde, a resident of Idanyin, Agbara, in the Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area.

“The corps received information that Abiodun Ogunbiyi, an okada rider, was abducted at gunpoint, only to later discover that the weapon used was a fake stainless pistol. The victim managed to struggle with the suspects on a motorbike, causing them to fall. The rider then raised the alarm, alerting the corps officers nearby, who promptly responded to the incident.

“Upon sighting the officers, the suspect discarded the gas lighter, which resembled a stainless pistol, into a nearby bush. This item was used to intimidate his victims into compliance.

“The suspect, Oluwatosin Ayinde, confessed to the crime and disclosed his affiliation with the prominent Eye Confraternity cult group.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspect include one blue Honda motorbike manually marked LSR 615 QM, two Techno Spark4 phones, which he admitted belonged to Abel Kente, a student,” Ganzallo said.

The suspect and the exhibits recovered have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force, Idanyin Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.