By Abimbola Akindunbi & Tola Gbadamosi
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A serial bag snatcher, who allegedly specialises in snatching bags containing money from bank customers, was on Friday, caught in Akure metropolis.
Coincidentally, The Hope Metro, was at the scene of the incident when the suspect was apprehended by an angry mob on Friday, after luck ran out on him.
The suspect was said to have snatched a bag containing the sum of N1.057million from the owner, Mr Muyiwa Oludare, in front of one of the new generation banks, in Alagbaka, Akure.
It was learnt that, as usual, the suspect hanged around the bank premises, with the pretence of being a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as “Okada,” waiting for a passenger.
It was reported that immediately the suspect sighted the victim coming out of the bank, he moved closer to him and suddenly snatched the bag containing the money he just withdrew and zoomed off.
The victim was said to have cried out to alert passers-by, while an angry mob gave the suspect a chase.
In an attempt to escape, the suspect, who hurriedly followed a one-way route to negotiate his way out, had a head on collision with another commercial motorcyclist carrying a passenger.
One of the okada riders at the scene, who spoke under the condition of anonymity with The Hope Metro, said immediately the man shouted for help, crying “Ole, ole,” pointing at the direction of the suspect, everybody around there was at alert and gave the suspect a hot chase.
“But unfortunately for the suspect, he ran into another commercial motorcyclist and somersaulted, while the other rider too fell down.
” Some of us pounced on the suspect and apprehended him, while others came to the rescue of the other okada man, who was seriously injured. They had to rush him to the hospital.
“The suspect would have been lynched, if not for the quick intervention of the police, who came to whisk him to the station.
The eye witness disclosed that in recent times, there have been several cases of snatching bags from unsuspecting customers coming out of the banks, by the unscrupulous elements, who pretend as commercial motorcyclists, waiting for passengers.
The Police Public Relation Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said the suspect is in their custody and still under police investigation.
