Police Arraign Suspects for Attacking Lagos Journalist in Court

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LAGOS, September 3, 2024 — Members of a criminal syndicate accused of drugging and robbing a Lagos-based journalist have been arraigned at the Customary Court in Ejigbo. The suspects were charged by the police on two counts of felony and theft. Following the hearing, the judge ordered their remand in prison, with the case adjourned until October 23 for further proceedings.

The victim, Mr. Abayomi Ajiboye, a journalist with Newsbustang.com, an online TV platform, recounted his harrowing experience, which occurred on August 22. Ajiboye was drugged by a three-man gang and robbed of his Samsung Note10+ phone while commuting from Oshodi to Isheri-Oshun in the Ijegun area of Lagos at around 5:00 PM.

Ajiboye explained that he had boarded a commercial bus at Oshodi and was enjoying a snack of roasted corn and pear when he shared it with a fellow passenger. During the ride, one of the gang members offered him a sachet of water, which he accepted, not suspecting any foul play. Shortly after drinking the water, Ajiboye lost consciousness.

As the bus approached Jakande Gate at Oke-Afa Isolo, Ajiboye felt dizzy and struggled to stay awake. One of the suspects, Ronald Eyam, 29, asked to borrow Ajiboye’s phone to make a call but refused to return it. The situation worsened as the bus reached Ajiboye’s stop, and the three suspects disembarked with him.

In his disoriented state, Ajiboye noticed that one of the suspects, Uche Mathew, 30, was attempting to steal a half bag of rice he had bought for his family. Sensing danger, Ajiboye called out to a passerby for help, and police officers from the Isheri-Oshun Divisional Police Station quickly intervened.

During police questioning, Uche Mathew confessed that the gang had traveled from the Maza-Maza and Alaba Rago areas to commit the crime. The case was transferred to the CP Tactical Squad Ijegun Annex, led by SP Aduroja Olurotimi.

Under the direction of SP Aduroja, Inspector Ozabor Friday and his team launched an investigation to recover Ajiboye’s stolen phone. The investigation led the police to the phone market in Alaba Rago, where the presence of law enforcement caused vendors to flee. The police managed to apprehend the other two gang members at their residence in a nearby ghetto, along with the receiver of the stolen phone.

During interrogation, suspect Ronald Eyam confessed to being part of a syndicate and admitted that this was his second failed operation. The suspects revealed that they used a mixture of illicit drugs, including Lexotan, to incapacitate their victims.

Ajiboye confirmed that the diligent efforts of the police not only led to the recovery of his phone but also initiated further prosecution concerning the 250,000 Naira that was stolen from him during the incident.

The newly appointed Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke, has been praised for his professionalism in combating crime, as his leadership has contributed to the swift arrest and prosecution of the suspects involved in this case.