Operatives of Rapid Response Squad,RRS, of Lagos State Police Command, have apprehended, one Hakeem Fatai, for allegedly stealing batteries from the premises of Lagos State Transport Management Authority,LASTMA, at Ojota area office of the state.

Policemen who acted on a tip-off by the LASTMA’s management about the missing batteries from their premises, laid siege for the suspect, and caught him while attempting to remove another battery from an impounded bus.

No fewer than Twenty batteries have been removed from the impounded vehicles which were parked inside the premises within a fortnight.

On his arrival at the RRS’ headquarters, the suspect owned up that he operated with an accomplice he identified as Yahoo, now at large.

According to him¸” yes I am responsible for the missing batteries. But I didn’t work alone. We are a two-man syndicate who usually steal batteries.

Our targeted vehicle was Volkswagen bus because its batteries can be removed easily without much stress.

We don’t usually go for trailer for its battery is protected with burglary”.

The suspect, who was picked-up over the weekend, by the operatives, said he always scale through the agency’s fence to access the compound and remove the batteries while his accomplice stayed outside to watch the surroundings for him.

The suspect, who is a native of Ijebu-Ode, said that he sold each battery for N2, 500 to one battery charger at Ogijo, suburb of Ogun state.

His confessional statement led to the arrest of the receiver of the stolen items, Nofiu Oriade, 46, the following day by the RRS operatives.

The receiver of the stolen batteries who professed ignorant of the crime, said that he never knew those batteries were stolen items.

While confirming the arrest of the two suspects, Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmus, said the onslaught to rid-off crime activities in the state is yielding more positive results.

The suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigation.