The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 21-year-old US returnee, David Segun, along with two accomplices, in connection with the murder of an Uber driver in the Obalende area of Lagos State.
This was revealed by State Commissioner of Police, Ishola Olanrewaju, who spoke about the arrests during a press briefing on Saturday at the police command headquarters.
Olanrewaju explained that Segun, along with his friends Emeka Akwara (19), Samuel Ariori (21), and Lukman Ariori (19), had ordered an Uber ride from Chevron in Lekki to Obalende at around midnight on Thursday, January 9.
Upon reaching a remote area in Obalende, the suspects allegedly attacked and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck.
However, they were unsuccessful in their attempt to steal the vehicle. Two of the suspects were immediately captured by local residents and handed over to the police.
“On January 9, 2025, around midnight, the police received a report of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder”. Olanrewaju explained, “One Emeka Akwara 19yrs, David Segun, 21yrs, Samuel Ariori, 21yrs and Lukman Ariori, 19yrs ordered an Uber at Chevron in the Lekki area – en-route to Obalende. On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, they robbed and killed the Uber driver by stabbing him multiple times in the neck, unfortunately, they were unable to snatch the vehicle.”
The commissioner added that the quick action of the community led to the apprehension of two suspects, who were handed over to police officers from Lion Building.
The two other suspects, who had fled the scene, were later captured in the Chevron area. The body of the deceased Uber driver was transported to Mainland Hospital in Yaba for autopsy.
Olanrewaju, who identified Segun as the gang’s leader and a US returnee, expressed his concern, saying, “This is their team leader. He was sent home from America by his father. The mother at home could still not handle him. The failure of society is placed on the police. We are not complaining, it is a job we signed up for. They will be facing criminal prosecution right from Monday.”
He also questioned the motive behind the murder, saying, “I wonder the value of what this vehicle will fetch in the market that made them snuff the life out of the owner. Probably the man even took the vehicle on hire purchase.”
In addition to this case, other suspects were paraded for involvement in kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, carjacking, and various other criminal activities.
The commissioner also highlighted the success of intelligence-led policing during the festive season, which ensured a peaceful holiday period in Lagos.
He remarked, “During this period, we had intelligence-led policing that resulted in the peaceful yuletide season that we had in Lagos. It is on record that Murtala Muhammed airport received nothing less than 500,000 diasporan Nigerians and ninety percent of whom did not go outside of Lagos for celebration.”
