Police arrest gang leader, loyalists shoot two

The Lagos State Police Command has
apprehended a wanted gang leader, Rasaki
Oseni, aka Elewure, for murder, vandalism
and theft.
This was just as thugs believed to be members
of Elewure’s gang allegedly shot two people
suspected to be police informants.
Police authorities told PUNCH Metro that the
suspect and his deputy, identified simply as
Toyin Mummy, were arrested by policemen
attached to the Alade Division during an
operation led by the Divisional Police Officer,
SP Aminu.
It was alleged that Elewure was the leader of a
gang known as EFCC boys, which is based in
Somolu, while Toyin is said to have been sent
to prison at least three times.
PUNCH Metro had reported in May, 2013 that
Elewure and some others at large participated
in the vandalisation of 100 vehicles in the
Bariga, Akoka and Somolu areas of the state.
The suspect had also been fingered in the
alleged murder of a pastor, Mr. Peter Sella,
on September 4, 2011.
According to the Police, Elewure, who was
also called, Federal, had been declared wanted
shortly after the vandalisation, but had
continued to evade arrest.
Other members of the gang declared wanted
by the police were, Osanle, Eyin Bouncing and
Talon Skibo, who have all been accused of
terrorising Somolu and its environs for over
four years.
During interrogation, Elewure was said to have
told the police that the cause of the gang war
in Somolu was an oil pipeline at the Fola
Agoro Canal, where they often go to siphon
petrol.
Meanwhile, residents have continued to
express fear as men believed to be loyalists of
Elewure shot a member of the community,
Olatunde Vincent, and another man on Craig
Street, Somolu, on Thursday.
It was learnt that the injured victim had been
rushed to a nearby hospital and was receiving
treatment.
Vincent, who spoke to our correspondent
from a hospital bed, said, “On Thursday
afternoon, I was in front of my house when
some cultists came on a motorcycle and
opened fire.”
It was learnt that after the incident,
policemen attached to the Alade Division
chased the cultists and arrested some of
them.
Confirming the incident to our correspondent
on the telephone, Deputy Police Public
Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, described
Elewure as a wanted gang chief and dangerous
leader who had been on the radar of the
police.
Ozoani said the case had been transferred to
the State Criminal Investigation Department,
Yaba.
He said the police had envisaged reprisals by
Elewure’s gang and had beefed up security in
the area.
While confirming Thursday’s shooting, he said,
“Around 2.30pm, some cultists attacked
Vincent and his friend, Jelili on Craig Street.
On getting the information, policemen
combed the area and arrested one Azeez
Adeshina. The case has been transferred to
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.
“Efforts are on to apprehend other fleeing
suspects.”