CITY NEWS Lagos police recover AK-47 Teenager remanded over phone theft rifle from fleeing robbers

An Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday remanded a 12- year -old boy, (name withheld), in a juvenile home for allegedly stealing a mobile phone valued at N5,000.

The boy, who is said to be out-of-school, resides with his mother’s relations at Egbeda, a suburb of Lagos. He is facing a charge of stealing.

Police Prosecutor Clifford Ogu told the court that the offence was committed on July 17, 2017 at Kuffo bus stop, Ayobo in Ipaja area of Lagos.

“The complainant, Mr Taiwo Adeleke, was charging his mobile phone inside his tricycle and was discussing with colleagues when the boy stole the phone.

“The boy sneaked into the tricycle, removed the phone and disappeared.

The following week, the same boy came back to the spot to beg for money, but unfortunately for him, a woman who saw him when he stole the phone raised an alarm and he was immediately apprehended and handed over the police,’’ he said.

The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The boy pleaded guilty to the charge.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni remanded the boy in Juvenile Correctional Centre at Oregun in Ikeja. She adjourned the case indefinitely. to

Detectives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Command at the weekend recovered one AK-rifle that was abandoned by a gang of robbers in Apapa.

The three-man armed robbery gang were allegedly on their way for an undisclosed operation when they ran into the police team who were patrolling the area.

It was gathered that the robbers were accosted at around 11:00 p.m carrying a big black bag.

Spokesman for the command, Olarrinde Famous-Cole who confirmed the recovery said the recovery was made last Friday night.

He said: “The operatives, who were on routine patrol of Apapa sighted three young men at around 11:00 p.m carrying a bag. The officers accosted them but the suspects on sighting the officers, dropped their bag and fled the scene. A check on the content of the bag revealed an AK-47. No ammunition was found in the bag.”

He said effort was ongoing to track down the fleeing gunmen.

Cole however advised parent to always monitor their children, noting that some teenagers are lured into crime by peer group influence.