…Police launch manhunt for four-man gang
…Residents decry worsening insecurity, demand improved patrols
Panic swept through the upscale neighbourhood of Victoria Island, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, 2025, as a four-man armed gang brazenly robbed a motorist of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz SUV at gunpoint.
The incident, which occurred around midnight on Akin-Olugbade Street, has reignited security concerns among residents and business operators in the highbrow area.
According to eyewitness accounts, the hoodlums, who arrived in an unidentified small car, ambushed the driver of the black 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 with registration number WTO 21 AM.
A resident, who spoke with PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, narrated the scene.
“The robbers were used their car to block the Mercedes, forcing it to stop. They immediately ordered the driver to come out. When he showed hesitation, one of them fired a single shot into the air. They then dragged him out of the vehicle, got in, and sped off towards Ozumba Mbadiwe Road. The whole operation did not last more than five minutes,” the witness stated.
It was gathered that the victim sustained minor injuries during the encounter, having put up some resistance against the assailants.
Confirming the incident, a senior officer at the Lagos State Police Command told our correspondent that a full-scale manhunt had been launched to apprehend the suspects.
The officer, who also requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak officially, disclosed that the vehicle, identified by the Vehicle Identification Number 4JGFB4FB8SB274117, had been placed on the security watch list across the state and the nation.
“The Commissioner of Police has been briefed, and we have activated our intelligence and operational assets. Our teams are on joint patrol, and all exit routes from Victoria Island are under intense surveillance. We are urging anyone with useful information to come forward,” the police source said.
The stolen SUV is described as a black metallic 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, featuring a brown leather interior, factory-fitted tinted windows, and distinctive AMG alloy wheels.
The police have appealed to the public, particularly car dealers, mechanics, and parking lot attendants, to be vigilant and report any sighting of the vehicle immediately through the emergency hotlines 112 or 767, or at the nearest police station.
The brazen robbery has, however, left a cloud of apprehension over the community, with many residents calling for immediate action from the authorities.
A cross-section of residents who spoke with NEWSFOCUS lamented the perceived decline in security, urging the government to intensify night patrols, improve the often-faulty street lighting, and enhance coordination between state security agencies and private estate guards to prevent a recurrence.
As of press time, the police said investigations were ongoing to track down the suspects and recover the luxury vehicle.
