LAGOS SEPTEMBER 16TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Residents of Baale Street, Off Ago Palace Way,Okota, Lagos where Toyin, the wife of The Sun Deputy Managing Director, Mr Steve Nwosu was abducted and Lagos State Police are trading blames over the successful abduction of the lady.
The resident said the robbers would have been apprended if the police arrived at the scene of the robbery on time because the speedboat used by the robbers broke down for about 20 minutes before it eventually worked.
According to report monitored in PUNCH Metro, the residents argued that the robbers could have been apprehended if policemen had immediately responded to distress calls and arrived at the area during the delay.
“When they eventually left us, a man from the far end of the street started to shout ‘thieves, thieves’. They were mad and began to shoot sporadically. In that confusion, they hurried to their speedboat, but the boat did not start. They were delayed for about 20 minutes. But no policemen arrived at the scene at the time,” one of the resident disclosed.
Another resident, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, added that during the delay, the police could have clamped down on the robbers successfully.
He said, “This area is under the Ago Okota Police Division, and the police would have been able to get at least one of them. The robbers started their boat, but it did not start on time. They were there for some time.
“There was a man who kept on shouting ‘thieves, thieves’ from a distance. The robbers were embarrassed, and they began to shoot in his direction, but he was not hit.”
Meanwhile, a source close to the Nwosus said the family had been able to speak with Toyin, while negotiations were ongoing to make the gang reduce the N100m ransom.
He said, “Yes, as of Tuesday afternoon, the gang had not reduced their demand, but the family is still negotiating with them. The robbers have allowed the family members to talk with the woman.”
Reacting to the allegation, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, said the police got to the area only at the time the residents put across the distress calls, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue Toyin from the kidnappers.
He said, “I do not want to disclose much information, but the police are still on the investigation. The policemen only got to the area at the time that the residents put across the distress call. This is because the police are not spirits.
“This is why we talk about community policing so that the police can respond on time to avert a situation from getting out of hand. If the residents had got across earlier, the police would have also arrived earlier.”
He added that the police was not aware of any negotiation between the family and the kidnappers.
He said, “I cannot confirm that the family members are negotiating with the kidnappers. The part of the police is to investigate. Any other move is without the knowledge of the police.”