Press statement from Lagos state Rapid Response Squad
Operatives
of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) acted on a tip-off from Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode and arrested a gang of narcotic specialist with
eighteen sacks full Indian-hemp. The four suspects that were apprehended
were Quadri Jimoh, 23, Tajudeen Busari, 33, Ukowa Udomma, 34, and
Yakubu Mudashiru, 30. One man later identified as Olumide (a.k.a.
Aroso), the gang leader, who also deals in various drug substances,
escaped.
According
to the memo, the gang has been terrorizing Oyingbo-Otto and its
environs. Two of the suspects, Quadri Jimoh and Tajudeen Busari,
insisting that they are victims of circumstances as they know nothing
about the Indian-hemp found in the building.
Jimoh
who lives at 15, Atitebi Street, Oyingbo, said that he was on his way
to buy medications for his pregnant wife. “I am a bus conductor. My wife
who is six-month pregnant called me to buy some prescribed medications
for her. And on my way going to the pharmacy, I saw people running
helter-skelter and I also ran with them. But unfortunately for me, I was
caught by the policemen,” the suspect explained.
On
his own, Tajudeen Busari, a native of Kwara State in Ilorin, said that
he was just passing through around the area where the eighteen sacks of
Indian-hemp were recovered. “I was just a passer-by when I saw people
running for their lives. And I also ran too before these policemen
intercepted me,” he added.
However, the
other two arrested suspects,confessed to the Police that they are not
the actual dealers of the drug, but they only smoke. They identified
Olumide, who is now at large, as dealer of the recovered Indian-Hemp.
According
to Uduma, “I went there to buy Indian-hemp before I found myself inside
the police net. As a fashion designer, I came to Lagos about two years
ago to eking out for livelihood.”
While
Yakubu Mudashiru, whose house gutted fire some years ago, confessed that
he is a regular visitor to the house where the drugs were found. “I
have nowhere to stay after my house was razed down by fire. Since then, I
have been sleeping inside Motor Park in Oyingbo. Truly, I went there to
smoke on the fateful day,” he confessed.
The
general public are hereby advised to always furnish Police with timely
and effective information. The suspects have been transferred to the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further interrogation.
