''I have been imprisoned 7 times" 18-year-old serial phone thief arrested in Lagos

The operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of
the Lagos State Police Command have arrested
an 18-year old serial phone thief in Oshodi. The
suspect, Sadeeq Wasiu, who had been imprisoned
seven times, was re-arrested in Oshodi on
Tuesday after several months of being on the
operatives’ wanted list.

Wasiu, alias “Omo Eiye”, as he is popularly called
in Oshodi was arrested at Oshodi Under Bridge
while trying to escape after snatching an Infinix
Note 3 from an undergraduate.

Before his arrest, Wasiu had been fingered to be
the master minder of four phone thefts and two
bag snatching attempt in Oshodi.

Sadeeq, who disclosed to interrogators that he
was released from Potoki Prison, Badagry in
January, 2017, said he ran away from Ikire, Osun
State when he was 15 years old.

“I was 15 years when I came to Lagos to
work as a conductor in 2014. My parents
were not aware I am in Lagos,” he stated.
"My popular name is Eyie. I steal phones
from people at Oshodi. We were three in
my group; Ahmed alias Oyi, Tombolo and
I. We have stolen more than 45 phones as
a group and I have stolen countless
number of phones individually.... I used to
sell the phones at Idi-Oro, Mushin. I sell the phone according to their make. I sell
some N10,000.00 and N8,000.00. I have gone to jail seven times.”

Wasiu added:
“I sell Indian Hemp too. I buy it from Spider in Lagos Island and I resell in small raps to over 50 of my colleagues in
Oshodi. I can buy N4,000.00 and brake into small wraps and sell for N8,000.00” Confirming the arrest, the State's Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police, Dolapo Badmus, said that the Command will not rest on
its oars in nipping in the bud criminal activities in the state.

The suspect has been transferred to the Lagos
State Taskforce in Oshodi for prosecution.