Uproar engulfed the Egbeda area of Lagos state as angry mob and policemen chased a suspected thief through moving traffic. 
According to report, the suspect and five of his gang members saw a teenage boy at the ATM gallery and talked him into releasing the N10,000 which he had withdrawn for his brother as well as his elder brother’s ATM card.
The six of them then went to the Domino Shopping Mall, where each picked the largest sized basket. It was when they started paying for the goods that the owner of the ATM card started receiving a series debit alerts. The alert was coming from the popular Domino Shopping Mall. He chartered a motorbike and raced to the place and then raised an alarm.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti, said the suspects were already in police custody. Oti further disclosed that the suspects would have escaped, if not for the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi’s standing instructions to all police stations that communities should be patrolled, especially shopping malls and recreational centres. He stated:
We have a standing order from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, that every station should be at alert and all communities, eateries, malls and relaxation centres should be especially monitored. When the suspects attempted to escape, policemen were not too far. Our policemen chased one of the suspects through moving traffic and arrested him.
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The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) also raced to the scene with his men, leading to further arrest of two others. The DPO and his men also saved the two suspects from being lynched.”
Recounting how the suspects decieved the teenager into parting with his elder brother’s ATM Card, Oti said:
The young boy was not abducted or locked up as people claimed. He is just an 18-year-old boy. His elder brother sent him to go and withdraw N10,000 for him at the ATM. He had already withdrawn the money before the suspects accosted and brainwashed him, after introducing themselves as spiritual men.
They brainwashed him and collected the N10,000 from him and the ATM card. They gave him money from the N10,000 to go and buy salt for some spiritual works, which they wanted to do for him. Immediately he left, they went on a shopping spree.
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It was while they were shopping that the elder brother received series of debit alerts and became alarmed. He raced to the shopping mall and approached the manager. The DPO was alerted. We thank God for the vision and strategy of our CP.”
