RRS arrest NURTW leader who trade in phones stolen from robbery and kidnap victims

Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives have arrested a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leader, for allegedly buying over 4,256 stolen phones, The Nation reports.

The suspect identified as Kazeem Bamidele aka Elewure, vice chairman of Ajegunle NURTW, reportedly told the RRS that he gets over 38 "clean" phones every week from over 52 persons, who specialise in pick pocketing and one-chance operations across the state.

According to The Nation, the 42-year-old suspect was traced to his shop at Boundary Market in Ajegunle and arrested after RRS Intelligence team caught two people using stolen phones in Kogi State.

The two suspects were arrested in connection with a kidnapping and robbery in Lagos. It was gathered that Elewure sold two Blackberry Z10 and CAT phones the suspects stole from their victims. Five phones were recovered from him.

Elewure was quoted by RRS as saying: "I have over 52 boys who sell clean stolen mobile phones to me. On the average, I receive 38 ‘clean’ phones in a week. I have been in the business for more than two years. Boundary Market in Ajegunle, where I have office and shop, is where they sell the phones to me and that is where the buyers equally get them. I know they are stolen phones. Nearly every guy in Ajegunle is involved in this kind of runs. I buy Infinix Hot 2 at N10,000 and sell N12,000; Blackberry Z30 at N20,000 and sell at N22,000; Infinix Hot Note at N15,000 and sell at N17,000 and Samsung Galaxy X3 at N11,000 and sell at N14,000. I don’t buy iPhone because of its locking system.

RRS further disclosed that some of the phones traced to Elewure were that of high profile members of the society, including celebrities and he had provide information that would lead to the arrest of his boys, who mostly lodge in hotels

Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), said investigation is ongoingadding that the case,  has been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)