In a dramatic turn of events, residents of the Oko Oba area in Orile Agege, Lagos, thwarted the attempted abduction of a local businessman, Samuel Oshanugor, at Navo Pharmacy late Monday night. The quick actions of the community prevented what could have been a successful kidnapping by armed assailants.
According to witnesses, a group of four men armed with guns and cutlasses stormed the pharmacy on Ogundele Street around 10 p.m. They looted the store, stealing cash and phones before attempting to kidnap Oshanugor by dragging him into his car. However, their getaway was thwarted when the vehicle became stuck in a bad patch of road.
James Alade, a resident who witnessed the attack, described the chaos as the assailants arrived on motorcycles and forcefully robbed the pharmacy. “They dragged the owner into his car, but the car got stuck, which gave us time to react,” he explained.
Lawrence Olawale, the pharmacy’s manager, recounted his actions that night. He had just left the store when he was informed of the robbery and rushed back to help. “I saw them trying to reverse the car. They threatened to shoot if I came closer, so I raised the alarm,” he said. As he and other residents shouted for help, the attackers became overwhelmed by the growing crowd.
The community’s response was swift, with people throwing stones and bottles at the criminals. Three of the assailants managed to flee by climbing over a fence, but the fourth was apprehended by residents.
Bello Ahmed, an official with the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, recounted the capture of the suspect. “We were already on alert when the suspect tried to mislead us by claiming he was a victim too,” Ahmed said. “His story didn’t add up, so we detained him, and when we reviewed the CCTV footage, he confessed to being one of the robbers.”
The police have confirmed the incident, with ongoing investigations to capture the remaining suspects. Ofem Bassey, Station Officer at the Abattoir Police Station, stated that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department. “We are intensifying patrols and efforts to apprehend the fugitives,” he said.
This incident comes shortly after a similar case in June when the Lagos State Police Command rescued the Fouani brothers and two others abducted by gunmen. The brothers, who are part of a prominent electronics distribution company in Nigeria, were safely recovered by the Marine Police.
The bravery and quick thinking of the Oko Oba residents serve as a testament to community solidarity in the face of crime, preventing a potential tragedy from unfolding.
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