Our reporter
Lagos police have apprehended a 21-year-old US returnee, David Segun, and three accomplices for the alleged murder of an Uber driver in the Obalende area of Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Emeka Akwara (19), Samuel Ariori (21), and Lukman Ariori (19), reportedly carried out the attack in the early hours of Thursday, January 9.
Addressing journalists at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters on Saturday, Commissioner of Police Ishola Olanrewaju disclosed that the suspects had requested an Uber ride from Chevron in Lekki to Obalende. Upon reaching a deserted area in Obalende, the group allegedly attacked the driver, fatally stabbing him multiple times in the neck.
The Commissioner revealed that the suspects’ plan to hijack the vehicle was foiled when members of the local community intervened, capturing two of the assailants at the scene.
“With the intervention of good Samaritans, two suspects were immediately arrested and handed over to police operatives attached to Lion Building,” Olanrewaju explained.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the remaining suspects in the Chevron area. The body of the deceased driver has since been deposited at the Mainland Hospital morgue in Yaba.
During the briefing, CP Olanrewaju identified David Segun as the leader of the gang, describing him as a young man recently sent back to Nigeria by his father after struggling with behavioural issues in the US.
“This is their leader,” the Commissioner stated while pointing to Segun. “He was deported from America by his father, and his mother here could not manage him. The failure of society becomes a burden on the police, but we are committed to addressing these challenges. They will face prosecution beginning Monday.”
The Commissioner expressed disbelief over the motive for the murder, suggesting the car’s potential market value was unlikely to justify such a heinous act. “It’s heartbreaking to think they killed a man for a vehicle that might not even fetch much in the market. The driver may have been struggling to pay off the car under a hire-purchase agreement,” he remarked.
In addition to the suspects involved in the Uber driver’s murder, other individuals were paraded for crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and cult-related activities.
CP Olanrewaju also highlighted the police’s proactive approach during the yuletide season, ensuring a peaceful celebration in Lagos.
“Thanks to intelligence-led policing, we recorded a largely incident-free holiday season,” he said, adding that Murtala Muhammed Airport saw over 500,000 diasporans arrive during the festive period, with most choosing to stay within Lagos.
The suspects are set to face legal proceedings in the coming days as investigations continue.
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