Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command over the weekend arrested the suspected member of an eight-man robbery gang, Abdullahi Olanrewaju, 30, during their operations at Abeje and Onibeju streets, off Capitol road in Agege Local Government Area of the state.
The operatives, who were led to the scene of the robbery by Inspector Anthony Inege, noted that one of the victims, who managed to escape through the window, alerted them that armed men were operating in their building.
The officers followed the complainant to the robbery scene where they met men of underworld numbering about eight in an attempt to enter another building on the street.
It was gathered that while robbers sighted the police, they opened fire at them.
The swift response from the RRS operatives, who were on patrol routine in the area, led to the arrest of one of them while others made away with two pump action guns, a sum of N549,500 and other valuables.
The suspect, who hails from Ita-Amoju in Kwara State, confessed to RRS investigators that he was lured into the robbery with a promise by his gang members that they would buy a commercial bus for him after the operation.
“When I arrived Lagos, I started driving a commercial bus plying Agege to Oshodi before I joined the robbery gang. But all of a sudden, the bus developed faults, and the owner had to sell the vehicle off. Since then, things have been very difficult for me.
I met other gang members at a beer parlour in Akerele Wahabi area in Agege. I told them I was a bus driver and they promised to buy a new bus for me.
When they refused to buy the vehicle for me, they promised again that they would introduce me to one business that could make me become rich. I never knew it was armed robbery they wanted to introduce to me to”, he stated.
He said, “At midnight when we went for robbery, I along with other seven gang members met at Markaz Road. We operated from one building to the other. Although, I didn’t follow them inside but I was placed on standby outside. My job was to keep all the looted items including money’’.
The suspect stated that they went to the operation with four pump action guns and Jack knives in case of any security operatives intercepts them.
“We went for that operation with bullet loaded four pump action guns. We had planned our movements for that night. We had intention to rob all the houses on the two streets but luck ran out on us as we were able to visit only five buildings before the arrival of RRS operatives. We collected a lot of money, mobile phones and jewellery to mention a few’’.
He noted that two of his colleagues opened fire at the Police upon sighting them approaching with their vehicle.
“When we sighted the police approaching, we had no choice than to shoot them. We opened fire on them and they retaliated immediately. But when we noticed that we were about to run out of bullets, we decided to take to our heels. Unfortunately for me, while others managed to escape the police arrested me because I was unable to join the waiting vehicle”, he revealed.
“If I had known I would not have followed them that night. It was my first time of going out with them. I didn’t know they were into robbery but when I discovered the kind of business they wanted to introduce to me, it was too late for me to reject, they also threatened to kill me if I expose them”, the suspect regretted.
However, one of the victims who did not want his name in print, alleged that the arrested suspect led the other men to their house.
“That was the man who pointed gun at everyone of us threatening to shoot us if we fail to cooperate with them. They had to destroy my door room with sledge hammer before they could enter my room”, he explained.
Another victim who lives on Onibeju Street, confirmed the allegation that the suspect led his colleagues to their building.
“It was a bad midnight for all of us. In fact, he hit one of our neighbours with the pump action. The man in question has been hospitalized receiving treatment”, he added.
The victims of the five buildings they visited on Ibeje and Onibeju streets, besieged RRS’ headquarters to identify the suspect as the gang leader, who threatened to “waste” their lives.
“When I did the calculations, the fleeing robbers had escaped with N549,500 collected from all of us with other valuables”, one of the victims said.
The items recovered from the arrested suspect were one cut-to-size pump action, Jack Knife, two laptops, 14 handsets, wrist watch and N2,600.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, said that the suspect was helping the Police with investigation that would lead to the arrest of the fleeing robbers.
She assured that the Police Command would not spare any criminal in the state.
