Police nab four suspected robbers after woman falls from moving vehicle

The Nigeria Police Force in Edo State has arrested four people suspected to be part of a one-chance robbery gang. This gang was operating along the Benin-Agbor Expressway. They were caught after a woman was allegedly pushed out of a moving vehicle during a robbery.

The police said the suspects were arrested on Monday. This came after a distress call reported that Joy Osaghae, a woman from Agbor in Delta State, had been pushed out of a moving vehicle around 8 a.m.

In a statement on their Facebook page on Tuesday, the police shared that a team of operatives chased the suspects from the robbery scene to Igbanke. There, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and ran into a nearby forest.

The police reported that the operatives managed to arrest all four suspects shortly after they fled.

One-chance robbery is when criminals pretend to be commercial transport operators. They lure passengers into their vehicles and then rob them.

The police named the suspects as Joy Moses, 29, from Warri, Delta State; Kalu Iro, 32, from Rivers State; Friday Chinedu, 37, from Isede Street, Agbor, Delta State; and Chiemela John, 35, from Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State.

The police confirmed that the victim identified all four suspects as the ones who robbed her.

Exhibits recovered

According to the police statement, they recovered a Volkswagen Passat wagon with registration number RLG 19 KA. This vehicle was reportedly used in the robbery.

Other items recovered included 11 mobile phones, a power bank, ₦125,550 in cash, and several bags found in the vehicle's boot.

The police noted that the bags were arranged to make the vehicle look like a commercial vehicle carrying passengers between Benin City and Agbor. This trick was meant to deceive unsuspecting commuters.

The command stated that the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, has ordered that the case be sent to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a proper investigation.

Mr Daaor praised the officers who worked on this case and the teamwork among the Wabazigan Patrol Team, Abudu and Igbanke police teams, the Edo State Security Corps, and other security personnel.

The police emphasized that they are committed to fighting crime on the highways and ensuring the safety of road users.