By Chioma Igbokwe
AS the manhunt for the suspected armed robbers that had robbed several banks in Lagos and Ogun States continues, the police have nabbed another commander among the gang, Clement Abanara (aka millions).
According to Investigation, he always disguised as a woman during operations in Ikorodu, Lekki, Festac and Agbara. The media had reported that the armed men were always in company with a woman who according to witnesses was in control during operations.
He was tracked down by detectives attached to the Special Intelligence Response Team (SIRT) at his latest hideout in at Osayande estate, Benin City, Edo state.
The detectives led by CSP Abba Kyari deployed advanced technology and were able to trace him from his former hideout. He is the latest arrest made after several others including security operatives involved in the robberies were apprehended.
It could be recalled that late last year, Kelly Fotor, a top commander of the gang was arrested in Delta after a wedding ceremony where he featured as the special guest of honour. He was said to have given the names and details of all those who participated in the Lagos and Ogun bank robberies before he died of bullet injuries. Fotor, who was picked up, a day after the Agbara incident, told the police that Million was the one who disguised as a woman.
It was gathered that Millions who had been on the wanted list of the police, got the attention of Lagos state command when he was accused of being the mastermind of several kidnappings in the state.
It would be recalled that in 2012, several persons were abducted and taken down to Delta state through Ikorodu waterways. Families of the victims were made to travel down to Warri to pay ransom before their relatives were released.
Investigation revealed that Millions was declared wanted by a former Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Umaru Manko in December 2012, after he led a four-man gang to abduct a former Majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tofeeq Adeniji, in Lagos and took him to Delta state, where he demanded N30 million ransom.
In 2013, it was reported that four members of the gang including one of its financiers, were also arrested by the men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja and they took the SARS operatives to a mansion built by Million.
That raid reduced to its barest minimum the wave of kidnapping from Delta state in 2013. It was learnt that when the manhunt for Millions subsided, he decided to join forces with suspected militants who were vandalising Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), pipelines in Lagos, and Ogun States.
He was said to have participated in most of the recent bank robberies in Lagos including the popular Lekki bank robbery.