I work for Lagos policeman, says suspected robber

A 21-year-old suspected robber, Akeem Popoola, says a police inspector attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, uses him to swindle unsuspecting victims.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

He said he had worked for the policeman, identified as Inspector Festus, aka Ijaya, for about four months before he was arrested.

The carpenter, who is currently in custody at the Agbado divison, Ogun State, was arrested for robbery and burglary. A mattress and speakers of a sound system were reportedly recovered from him in the Giwa area of Agbado on April 6.

He told PUNCH Metro that apart from burglary, he used to collect phones from the inspector and he would later sell them.

He added that Ijaya and two others – Abbey and Aluko – would get the buyers arrested minutes later for buying stolen items.

Akeem said their victims paid Ijaya between N120,000 and N150,000 before they were released, adding that he got N5,000 as his share on each ‘deal’.

“In November 2015, one of my father’s tenants and I fought. When my daddy came back home on that day, she reported me to him and he handed me over to Inspector Festus at the state police command headquarters, Ikeja. He told him I was too troublesome and wanted him to discipline me. But he (Ijaya) did not. He took me to a beer parlor at Alakuko and gave me N5,000. I was very surprised.

“Two days after, we met at another beer parlour around Agbado, where I was made to swear an oath. He brought out a gun and put some gin inside the barrel. He drank from it and gave me the gun to do same. He said he would be sending me on some errands. He gave me a mobile phone and drove me in his Toyota Camry to POWA complex in Ikeja.

“He told me to sell the phone inside the complex which I did for N20,000. After an hour, he handcuffed me and took me in his car with his boys – Abbey and Aluko – to the man that bought the phone. He arrested the man and told him to pay N200,000 if he did not want to be taken to the station. The man raised N150,000 among his friends in that complex and gave him.

“When we left there, he removed the handcuffs and gave me N5,000 and we departed.”

The Oke Ona, Abeokuta indigene said the second deal he had with Ijaya was an iPad he sold to another unsuspecting victim around Ikeja. He said he got a N5,000 share from the N150,000 bribe the inspector allegedly collected from the buyer, who was also accused of acquiring stolen property.

He added that when he decided to quit, Ijaya refused.

Akeem told our correspondent that Ijaya threatened they had sworn an oath and that he would die if he backed out from the deal or revealed it to his father.

“Sometime in February, the inspector gave me a Techo phone which I sold to a guy at Agbado. The guy gave me N7,000 and a small phone. Thirty minutes later, we went back with my hands handcuffed. And as he normally did, he collected about N120,000 from him before he was released. I also got my N5,000 share. I can say all this in his presence,” he added.

Akeem said he had stolen a plasma television at Oke Aro area of Agbado on the order of Ijaya, insisting that the item was still with the policeman.

His father, Mr. Ahmed Popoola, who regretted handing him over to the policeman, said his son was a thief before he took him to Ijaya for discipline.

He said he strove to meet Akeem’s needs and had counselled him on several occasions to no avail.

“He had been stealing before I took him to a police friend, Yekini, who handed him over toIjaya with a belief that he (Akeem) will change if he sees the way thieves are being punished. He had been embarrassing me. He still has a case in the Sango-Ota division. I was arrested and detained because of him.

“When he finished his secondary school, he told me he did not want to proceed to a higher institution. I enrolled him as an apprentice in my carpentry workshop and constructed a wooden shop for him when he graduated. He removed all the planks I used to construct the shop and sold them. Let the law take its course.”

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the police were on the trail of Ijaya and his accomplices. He added that the case had been transferred to the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

He said, “The suspect was arrested for robbery and burglary. He mentioned Ijaya and some others and we have commenced investigation. If any of them is actually a policeman, we are going to send a signal to the command he is attached to and he will be arrested.”

But the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Dolapo Badmos, denied that Ijaya was a serving cop in the command.

“We don’t have a policeman bearing Festus or Ijaya in the command,” she said.

I work for Lagos policeman, says suspected robber

Female robbers nabbed in Uyo

TWO members of a female robbery gang, Ekpo Grace and Daniel Mfon, have been nabbed by operatives of the State Police Command in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Female robbers

They were arrested while trying to escape in a tricycle, popularly referred to as Keke Marwa, after robbing a boutique located at Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo.

The duo according to reports, are the alleged leaders of the notorious female gang that has been terrorising Uyo and other parts of the State, causing chaos over the past few months. They were alleged to have been robbing shops, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and residents in broad daylight.

Eyewitnesses said they had stormed a boutique pretending to buy some expensive clothes, bags, wristwatches and other accessories. After they had gathered the items together, they sent the female sales attendant to go and get them some drinks from a nearby shop. When the girl stepped out, they called on their operational keke and were about to escape when the girl returned and saw them.

The attendant reportedly raised an alarm. Passersby and other tricycle operators chased them and both thieves and the trycycle driver were apprehended.

They were, however, taken to the State Police Command Headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia, by policemen who came to the scene. On interrogation, the two suspects confessed to their crime.

Grace and Mfon reportedly claimed that apart from the robbery in which they were caught, they had been involved in all kinds of robbery in the state for quite some time.

Grace, who claimed to be the head of the gang, said:“When we enter any shop, we try to distract the salesperson or send him or her on an errand if we realize he or she is very young. That will make us run away with the goods without paying for it. ”

“We steal anything we see and can get hold of and we usually pack the most expensive items.”

“We also rob women inside Keke, we pick recharge cards, bags and anything that would fetch us quick money.”

Female robbers nabbed in Uyo

Edo police arrest five car thieves

The Edo State Police Command on Monday said it has arrested five persons who allegedly specialise in snatching cars and robbing their victims on the Agbor-Uromi-Auchi express road in the state.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

‎The names of the suspects were given as Eric Erazue, Oghenetega Awuze, Donatus Usamako, Jibrin Mohammend and Marvis Aramude.

The were said to have been arrested few hours after they allegedly snatched two motorcycles and a Mercedes Benz car.

‎The suspects were said to have snatched the car from its owner at about 7pm on Sunday and later drove it to Auchi, where a buyer was contacted to buy the vehicle for the sum of N300,000.

‎It was, however, learnt that the suspects were arrested by police officers from the Uromi Police Division when the car developed a fault at Obagie village, along the Benin-Abuja express road‎, while en route to the state capital, for a transfer of ownership‎.

Two locally made guns and a mobile phone, belonging to the owner of the snatched car, were said to have been recovered, following the arrest.

Edo Police spokesman, DSP Stephen Onwochei, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on Monday evening, said the suspects had been on the wanted list of the police.

‎Onwochei also added that they would be charged to court at the end of investigations.

Edo police arrest five car thieves

We planned Ikorodu bank robbery in 30 minutes - suspect confesses

LAGOS—As fresh facts begin to emerge about the Ikorodu banks robbery operation where N80 million was reportedly carted away a fortnight ago, one of the suspects has revealed that they planned the operation at a meeting that lasted 30 minutes.

It was also discovered that 12 members of the gang were recruited from the Niger Delta region.

This is just as the four suspects arrested in connection with the operation, which lasted close to two hours, have confessed that their gang was responsible for similar operations at Ijede road three weeks before that of Ipakodo also at Ikorodu, and that of Lekki, where five persons, including three policemen, were killed.

The arrested suspects include Omoboye, alias Alarm blow, 39; Bright, 25; Ikuesan, 37, and Abiwa, 20

The robbery suspects paraded Monday in Lagos.

.

The bank robbery, according to Bright, was carried out by an 18-man gang. Bright, a graduate of English/Christian Religious Study, CRS, from the College of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State, said a meeting with members of the gang, chaired by the gang’s leader, whose identity he gave as Million, was held in Abule area of Lagos same day the operation was carried out.

‘My role’

The father of two said: “Million is our leader. I was introduced to the gang by a friend named Akpan. I joined because I had no means of feeding my family. I am a wood logger, but business has been bad.

“Akpan took me to the gang’s meeting same day of the operation, on June 24, at Abule Ishawo area of Ikorodu. Those of us from Lagos included myself, M. O., Kelvin, S. K. Careboy and Million, while the rest were recruited from Warri, Delta State, by Million.

“He also brought eight rifles and two pump action guns from Warri, including the two operational vehicles. He taught us how to aim at our targets during the meeting, which lasted 30 minutes, with each of us instructed on what to do on reaching the venue.

“My role was to stand outside, with one of the pump action guns, shooting sporadically. I was also instructed to shoot at anyone who dared to intrude, while the boys recruited from Warri confronted the police.

“I had over 900 cartridges. At the end of the operation, we escaped in a fibre boat and went to the creeks, where the loot was shared. At the creeks, we analysed the operation and Million said we did well, promising to use us for subsequent operations.”

 

‘I got N2m’

“I was not allowed to go near where the money was counted. Million and other leaders counted the money. But Akpan told me they got N80 million. I was given N2 million.

“I bought a Lexus SUV for N1.5 million and I gave my wife N30,000 to enrol for an exam. I also gave some of my friends out of it and also bought jerry cans for my brother, who is a pipeline vandal.

“Million instructed those from Warri to set the operational vehicles ablaze before leaving the scene. That was after the numbers plates were removed.

“He collected the cost of the cars from the loot before sharing the rest among us. That was my first time of joining them. I did not go with them to the Lekki and Ijede banks operations.”

 

Lekki, Ijede’s  robbery operation

On his part, Omoboye, a boat operator, said that he conveyed the gang to all the three bank operations.

Omoboye, popularly known as Baba Ibeji, said he was given N400,000 from Lekki’s operation and N2 million each from the Ijede and Ipakodo bank robberies.

He said: “At the end of the last bank operation at Ipakodo, my boat developed a fault as we were escaping. If the police had come after us, they would have arrested some of us. But the leader of the gang called another boat operator to take us.

“On reaching their hideout at Abule Ishawo, they did not allow us in because we were considered strangers that could sell them out to the police.

“I got N400,000 from the Lekki operation, N2 million from the Ijede’s and N2 million from the Ipakodo operation.

“We are into illegal oil bunkering; we vandalise pipelines and also rob people in the creeks. I have two wives and five children, but my wives do not know I am into armed robbery.

“I bought a Lexus SUV for N1.15 million, four days after the last operation.”

My promise to Lagosians—OUTGOING CP

Briefing journalists earlier on the arrest, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, pointed out that the arrest was a demonstration of his earlier assurance to Lagosians that no criminal would perpetrate any sinister motive without being arrested.

 

We planned Ikorodu bank robbery in 30 minutes - suspect confesses

Woman leads robbery operation in Lagos, made away with N20m from Zenith Bank

By Punch News

“AREa, Zico come and see money. See money wey we dey look for,” screamed one of the robbers.

In a jiffy, the robbers packed about N20m said to have been arranged for loading into the Automated Teller Machines at   a Zenith Bank branch in Ebute-Ipakodo in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Wednesday morning.

A damaged Zenith Bank rotor door (2) Victims of the robberies at the Ikorodu General Hospital (3) The burnt jeeps… on Wednesday
| credits: Goke Famadewa, Afeez Hanafi

A bank official, who narrated how the robbery took place, said the ecstasy displayed by the robbers was only comparable to “what you see when a footballer scores a decisive goal.”

As some of the gang members held everyone in bank   hostage while looting additional cash from the   strong room, others were doing the same at the First Bank branch in the area.

Satisfied with their bounty,   the gunmen stormed out   and challenged policemen, whose station is opposite the First Bank branch, to confront them.

A young lady was said to have led the over one hour attacks which bore semblance of the March 12 robbery in Lekki, Lagos.Even though no policeman was in sight, they displayed more bravado by setting three Sports Utility Vehicles which they drove to the banks, on fire. Before this, they had removed the number plates of the vehicles.

Four persons, including a teenage apprentice vulcaniser, simply identified as Rilwan, were injured by the robbers who fled through a jetty in the area.

It was learnt that the bandits, numbering about 16 invaded the banks, located directly opposite the Ipakodo Police Division, at about 9am and started shooting indiscriminately.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers used dynamite to shatter the rotor doors of the two banks to gain entrance and order members of staff and their customers to lie down.They were said to have opened fire at the police station to scare the officers, after which they proceeded with their operation.

It was gathered that some of the gunmen were outside the banks firing into the air for over an hour.

Some security operatives, comprising policemen and soldiers, arrived the area around 1.30pm after the robbers had fled.

Our correspondent, who visited the Ikorodu General Hospital, where the injured victims were taken to, met an employee of the Zenith Bank   and a customer,who gave his name simply as Segun.

The banker (name withheld) and Segun   sustained injuries after hitting their heads on glasses while the teenage vulcaniser and the fourth victim, an okada (motorcycle) rider, were hit by stray bullets.

The bank official narrated the incident to sympathisers and our correspondent who found his way into the hospital.

He said the robbers carted away over N80m from Zenith Bank which “a bullion van was to transport out of the bank.”

“One of them entered and when he saw about N20m that we had arranged to put inside our ATMs, he shouted, ‘Area, Zico see money. See money wey we dey look for.’He started dancing. He pulled a lady among us and ordered her to pack the money inside the bags they brought. After packing the money, the robbers ordered her to lead them to the strong room.The banker added, “They shouted, ‘open the door, open the door’, but none of us answered them. Suddenly, we heard an explosion and the glass went down. I was wounded by broken glasses.

“When the lady opened the strong room, the robber that shouted in the ATM room exclaimed again, ‘Eheeeee, Area, Zico give me bags! Give me bags.   Come and see money wey we dey look for. They packed everything in the strong room; more than N60m. We were expecting a bullion van to move the money before the incident happened.”

Segun, said, “I was at the ATM section of the Zenith Bank to withdraw money. Suddenly, there were gunshots. Two of the gunmen came in and one of them threw me on the floor. He wanted to shoot, but his colleague told him to leave me.”

Another eyewitness, Ikechukwu Oyenso, said, “I was at the First Bank at exactly 9am to use the ATM. It was my turn when we suddenly heard gunshots. I saw two of the robbers   shooting directly at the police station and the policemen ran away.

“Some gunmen came into the First Bank. A guy stood outside and two entered the bank.

“They used dynamite to destroy the door of the bank. They entered the banking hall and ordered everybody to lie down. These guys looked young. They were dressed in black and they wore caps. They did not use masks. They robbed for over an hour. It was terrible.”

A resident of the area, Chinedu Chapel, said the police were helpless, adding that it was a pointer that citizens were not secured.

He said, “From what happened today, it shows that Nigerians are not safe. It is a shame. The policemen hid at the back of Ipakodo Grammar School for more than one hour.”

A pastor at a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish in the area, Anayo Okpara, wrote his experience on his Facebook page.

“This(Wednesday) morning, between the hours of 9am and 10am, I was a few meters away from the scene of a bank robbery at Ipakodo, Ebute, Ikorodu. The robbers operated with guns for about 30 minutes right opposite a police station.

“Everyone took cover, including the policemen; not even the military officers at the other end could come to the aid of the citizens. We were more like in a war scene with gunshots roaring for the entire 30 minutes.

“About 20 minutes after the robbers were done and gone, the whole place became flooded with policemen, I counted about 10 pickups, two armoured tanks and one OP MESA pickup van. Except the Lord watches a city, the watchmen stay awake in vain!”

Another eyewitness, Ademola Fashola, said he hid somewhere around the jetty area while the robbers escaped.

He said, “I came to withdraw money from the First Bank ATM, but I changed my mind and headed for Ipakodo, near the jetty. I was there when I heard the gunshots. After they had robbed the banks, the gang leader, a woman, walked while their cars moved towards the Origin Gardens (the jetty area). She dared the police to come out and ordered her gang members not to shoot anybody. She is not up to 20 years. I saw five of them. They dragged the bags that contained the money inside the jetty. I heard one of them calling somebody to pick them. He was shouting ‘Taofeeq, Taofeek, come and pick us now’.”

Saheed, also an eyewitness, said, “Where I hid, I saw them carrying bags of money into the jetty. That short woman held the gun, while another guy took the money inside the jetty. When they were about to escape, they removed the number plates of their three cars, poured fuel on them and shot at one of them, which erupted in flames.

“Along that waterfront are naval officers. Where were they then?”

The head of security, Ipakodo Community Development Association, Femi Awode, said he called two police officers on the phone to no avail.

The workers at the gardens declined comments on the incident and told our correspondenst to come later.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, who visited the scene of the incident along with some military officers, said the command would get the robbers.

He said, “I am here with other service chiefs to have a joint coordinated approach to this incident. We are very positive that we are going to get to the root of the matter. Just give us time.

“The timing and conduct of the men (police officers) are also going into investigation. We are checking the operation of these jetties and the vulnerability of our waterways. Nobody died.”

The command’s spokesperson DSP Kenneth Nwosu said N5m would be given to anybody, who could avail the police with useful information to ensure the arrest of the robbers.

“The command will reward anybody with useful information towards the arrest of the bank robbers with N5m,” he said.

The spokesperson for the First Bank, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, said he could not confirm whether the robbers made off with cash from the bank as he had yet to receive the details of the incident.

Calls made to the number of the Zenith Bank spokesperson, Mr. Akin Olaniyan, rang out. He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to him as of 9pm on Wednesday.

Woman leads robbery operation in Lagos, made away with N20m from Zenith Bank

Man killed, Nurse kidnapped in Ekiti

A yet to be identified man and an indigene of Ido Ekiti has been killed in a Wednesday kidnap operation of a senior Nurse working with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Mrs Margaret Aladeneka.

Mrs Margaret Aladeneka The Nation

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Majekodunmi Ayodele, who revealed this on Thursday to journalists also raised the alarm over Wednesday invasion by some youth who accused the hospital of not giving preference to indigenes in employment exercise.

Ayodele alleged that the youths under the platform of Ido Youths Vanguard pelted the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, with pure water sachet for  mediating in the issue.

He stated that Mrs Aladeneka, who hailed from Akwa Ibom State but married to an indigene of Ondo State was abducted on Sunday along Ipere –Iludun-Ido road while traveling on the bad and lonely road with her husband.

He said another occupant of the vehicle, whose identity was not revealed was killed during the operation, giving an indication that the assailants were members of the Ido community who feared the victim could identify them.

Ayodele called on the Commissioner of Police, Mr Joshua Ibine, and Director of the State Security Service, Mr Duke Fubara, to tighten security around the hospital for safety of his staff.

“Up untill now, no telephone call has been received from the kidnappers and this calls for serious concern. Her whereabouts is unknown. But her husband was brought here because after the incident his blood pressure had risen. We have succeeded in stabilising him but he has yet to be discharged.”

Ayodele said, “Whatever we are doing here is being guided by the regulations of the Federal Character Commission. We have a quota to fill. But as we speak, Ekiti and particularly Ido Ekiti, had overshot its quota and even the FCC ought to prosecute us for this.

“In the employment of the staff on grade levels 1-6, people of Ido Ekiti were being given over 75 % consideration . We also patronise their artisans as well. So, employment  here is primarily based on your relevance.”

The Nigerian Medical Association, Ekiti State, has also raised the alarm over incessant harassment and attacks of doctors and other health workers in the state.

Man killed, Nurse kidnapped in Ekiti

I went into robbery to pursue my career in football – Suspect

LAGOS — Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Lagos State, have nabbed two robbery suspects for allegedly robbing residents, commuters and commercial cyclists, popularly known as Okada.

The suspects, identified as Stanley Okorie, 20 and Emmanuel Enu, 25 were nabbed during an operation at Satellite Town and Ajegunle areas of Lagos respectively.

Vanguard gathered that the police arrested Enu with one locally made short gun and a cartridge, while a toy gun was recovered from Okorie, while the original gun was taken away by other fleeing gang member, identified simply as Chijioke.

During interrogation, Enu, who hails from Boki Local Government Area of Cross River, said: “I belong to a gang which specialised in robbing on motorcycles along Oduduwa Road, Ajegunle.

“I am the son of a retired naval officer. I went into robbery, so I could raise money to travel to Sweden to pursue my football career.

“On that day, we took off from around wharf area on a bike. We snatched one man’s phone and Onuora said he wanted to ease himself. While he was doing that, two motorcycles trailing us stopped by and chased me.

“The gun was in a bag I was holding. Onuora escaped but the motorcyclists who were policemen arrested me with the gun.”

In his defence, Okorie, an indigene of Delta State, who was arrested along the Satellite expressway, said Chijioke taught him how to rob.

According to him, “he was a commercial driver, he asked me to join him when I asked for assistance. I needed to use the money to pay for house rent.

“I have gone for about four operations at Igando and Agbara areas. When we robbed at Igando, I got N13, 000. We also took three phones and N15,000. We also carried out operation at Agbara and realised N25,000. It was at Lekki that we make the highest amount of N780,000.”

 

I went into robbery to pursue my career in football – Suspect

Three robbers killed after shootout with police in Osun

Three suspected armed robbers met their Waterloo in Osogbo, Osun State, as they died after sustaining bullet wounds during a shootout with the operatives of Special-Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in the early hours of Friday.

Pictures of three armed robbers killed by SARS in Osun State

Saturday Tribune gathered that the suspects, who came in an unregistered Lexus car for a robbery operation, went to Oke Baale area of Osogbo, opposite Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), to attack the residents at about 2.00 a.m.

Some of the residents, it was learnt, sent a distress call to the officer in charge of SARS in Osun State Police Command, DSP Adekunle Omoyele, and he was said to have led a team of operatives to the scene immediately.

Saturday Tribune further gathered that on getting to the scene, the policemen learnt that the armed robbers had robbed one Alhaja Ganiyat Kolapo of her personal belongings while the hoodlums also went away with her Toyota Camry car with registration number LND 847 AJ.

Omoyele and his team reportedly chased the armed robbers towards Ibokun road. The robbers reportedly abandoned the Toyota Camry and fled into the bush.

Meanwhile, the SARS men were said to have started combing a nearby bush when they noticed an oncoming bus followed by a car which model was later discovered to be Lexus.

A police source who craved anonymity told Saturday Tribune that as SARS operatives waved the bus driver to a stop, the driver of the Lexus car made an attempt to overtake the bus and fired sporadically at the police in order to escape.

Undeterred, the policemen pursued the hoodlums towards Ibokun road and got close to them at a spot close to Egbeda Village where the hoodlums reportedly stopped and engaged the SARS operatives in a gun battle, as a result of which three of them sustained bullet wounds and died.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the Toyota Camry belonging to their victim and the unregistered Lexus for the robbery were recovered by the police. One of them was said to have escaped with bullet wounds and arms used by the robbers.

When the Lexus was searched, it was gathered that a laptop, digger, knife, charms, assorted phones, three ATM cards, one cut-to-size double barrel gun, seven live cartridges, five expended cartridge shells, and some rough naira notes totaling about N36,000, as well as the driver’s licence belonging to their victim were recovered. The victim was said to have identified the corpses as those of the hoodlums who came to rob her.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State Police Command, DSP Folasade Odoro, confirmed the incident, saying that the corpses had been deposited at the State Hospital Osogbo mortuary for autopsy. She added that efforts were on to get the fleeing hoodlums.

One of the victims, Alhaja Kolapo, told Saturday Tribune that two of the hoodlums gained entry into her apartment after cutting the net and burglar proof on one of the windows. “One of them entered and went to the kitchen door to open it for the second robber.

“They did not bother to switch on the light as they made use of a torch light with strong halogen bulb which they brought. They ransacked the house and picked all they wanted. They saw the key of the Camry and took it also,” she narrated.

Another victim, Kareem Adebayo, said the armed robbers also visited him and his younger brother before going to Kolapo’s house. He said they collected the cash found with him and tied him with a rope at the backyard.

“They came into my house through the window which burglar proof was cut. They demanded for money and I gave them N40,000. They saw my car key, took it and demanded for my ATM card. They said they would take me to an ATM to withdraw the N47,000 they saw as my account balance. I told them the ATM card was in the car.

“They were searching the car for the ATM card when they found the N150,000 I kept there. They started beating me, saying that I lied that I didn’t have money. One of them also wanted to rape my wife and when she told him that she was pregnant, he still wanted to go ahead and had already worn his shirt inside out.

“She was saved because by then, my brother had been able to free himself and he jumped over the fence to alert neighbours. When the neighbours were coming, the hoodlums lay flat on the ground, and as one of the neighbours, one Owolabi Mohammed, got to where they lay, one of the armed robbers stood and hit his head with a digger, resulting in a deep gash. That was how they ran away with my money and my car key,” Adebayo also said.

The two victims praised the efforts of the SARS in responding promptly. Mr Adebayo said he was already on his way to a network service provider to retrieve his line when he received information that he should come to SARS to check some of the items found with the dead hoodlums and identify them.

Alhaja Kolapo also told Saturday Tribune that “I am highly impressed with the immediate response of the police. I am happy that they recovered the items taken from me and got my tormentors.”

Three robbers killed after shootout with police in Osun

2,123 policemen protected Jonathan while robbers raided bank – Fashola

THE Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday said 2, 123 policemen that would have helped to repel the Thursday bank robbery in the state were sent to protect President Goodluck Jonathan when he visited Lagos.

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola

Fashola, who said this at the 2015 Agric Value Chains Empowerment programme, lamented that the President’s visit to the state paralysed the state security apparatus so much that it could not foil the robbery.

He said nearly all the vehicles bought by the state government for the police to be able to respond rapidly to crimes were on the alert for the President.

Fashola said, “The President came to Lagos last Thursday, and while citizens were being robbed, the President was protected by 2,123 security personnel.

“Let me be very clear, the President is entitled to every protection; he is our President, but the question to ask is; when you were being traumatised, where were these 2,123 men, because you are also entitled to be protected? The reason why the President gets all that protection is so that he can protect all of us.”

Fashola said he was also worried by the reports of violence and harassment of innocent citizens on Monday during a protest by members of the Oodua People’s Congress and loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“Yesterday (Monday), they also showed the difference between us when the supporters of the PDP and President Jonathan came out. On March 7, just about a week ago, the APC held a solidarity walk in Lagos. Did anybody attack you on that day?

“So, yesterday, they held their own, and instead of canvassing for your votes, they were showing you knives and cutlasses.”

About 3,529 beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, were given farm inputs, including fish feeds, eggs, cattles, and fertilisers, among others.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Gbolahan Lawal, said the programme had resulted in significant reduction in poverty.

“For some beneficiaries, it was a lift of a lifetime.

“During the exercise in 2014, 3,149 households benefited.

“Those who were not fortunate today will have to register for the next exercise,” Lawal said.

2,123 policemen protected Jonathan while robbers raided bank – Fashola

We robbed our victim because his daughters drove expensive cars – Suspect

By Esther Onyegbula

LAGOS — Operatives of the Lagos State Investigative Bureau (SCIB) have arrested two members of a four-man robbery gang in Lagos which specialises in terrorising residents of Isolo, Oshodi, Ikeja and its environs.

The suspects, identified as Ihenachor Samson, 25 and Raphael Ugbekele, 33, were arrested after successfully carrying out a robbery operation in Bucknor Estate in Isolo, Lagos.

It was learned that the armed gang, which attacked the house of one barrister (names withheld), gained access into the compound through the back fence.

They tied up the security man and cut the burglary to gain access to the main apartment, where they allegedly stole the victim’s Porsche Chyes SUV, house appliances, plasma television, home theatre, clothing and other valuables.

They also broke into the shop attached to the building and carted away some goods and recharge cards.

Vanguard gathered that after the operation, the victim reported the case to the Commissioner of Police who then detailed operatives of the Lagos State Investigative Bureau, SCIB, to investigate the case.

The investigation paid off months after as the operatives tracked the suspects to their hideout and arrested Samson, and subsequently arrested Raphael too.

Although the vehicle is yet to be recovered, it was gathered that when the detectives got to one of the suspects’ house, they discovered the victim’s home theatre and Plasma television.

Suspect’s account

Speaking to Vanguard, Raphael, who just returned from Ikoyi prisons after serving a jail term bordering on robbery and receiving stolen, said: “It was at Ikoyi prison that I met the two members of the gang. I am the leader of the gang. I was the one that brought the guns that we used for operations.

“One of my associates whom I met at Ikoyi prisons gave me the guns. After I returned from prison I began to squat with my cousin in the estate.

“I decided to rob the barrister because his daughter’s drove expensive vehicles arrogantly in the neighbourhood. We were able to carry out the operation successfully because I have watched and monitored them closely.

“I also met Olaitan, the receiver, in prison and he promised to help us sell the vehicle. He has only remitted N30,000 unfortunately he was caught, arrested, charged to court and is currently in Kwara prison where he is serving a jail term on robbery.”

 

We robbed our victim because his daughters drove expensive cars – Suspect

Police kill notorious hoodlum in 9-hr gun battle in Ilorin

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By Demola Akinyemi

ILORIN—A notorious hoodlum, who has been terrorising Ilorin and environ was killed yesterday at Pakata area of the city, while an army officer sustained severe injury in a fierce battle that lasted nine hours.

Eye witness account told Vanguard that Anifowoshe community in Pakata, Ilorin, Kwara State capital, was a theatre of war in the battle between the hoodlum and a combined team of Army, Airforce and Police.

Residents of the area were held hostage for hours, while the main road around Government Girls Day Secondary School was blocked by the security team, thus preventing vehicular movement from both sides.

The suspect, believed to be in his thirties, suspected to be a policeman from Okene, Kogi State, reportedly rented an apartment in the area for his wife and aged mother  from where he had been carrying out his nefarious activities.

The source said:  “In the ensuing crossfire, the suspect was said to have been gunned down,while an unidentified man of Nigeria Army among the security team sustained wound on his arm as a result of bullet fired at him by the suspect.

“The area became tension soaked while the gun duel, which started around 2am of yesterday’s morning lasted till around 11am.”

Another eyewitness account said the security operatives had been on the trail of the suspect for the past three days.

 

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Police kill notorious hoodlum in 9-hr gun battle in Ilorin

Robbers justify crime by accusing politicians of stealing too

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WHAT do we do when robbery suspects question society’s morality? We dismiss them as justifying their crime. We found this incident and its knocks on our laws profound. Garba Sani, 24, a private guard accused of robbery, and Okwudili Godwin, 30, said to have received the stolen goods, gave reporters a treatise on commonness of crimes in Nigeria.

“We are not robbers. We have many criminals in Nigeria. Senators are stealing and nobody has arrested them. We too, we NEED MONEY. We are jobless, we have nothing. My salary is N12, 000 monthly,” according to Sani.

Justifying crime is unacceptable, but do their claims nudge our conscience? We assume our society still has conscience. Does our society care about its members’ wellbeing? Do governments still have responsibilities to the people?

The suspects insisted their crime was milder when weighed against what others did. “I took the goods to my warehouse at Ikorodu area. Nothing was sold; they have all been recovered intact,” Okwudili said before adding, “Have you not committed a crime before? How much are they paying you a month that can sustain you and your family? Let me tell you, we are all criminals. We are Nigerians and we have the element of criminality in us”. Maybe exaggerated, but many would share the view.

Sani and Okwudili painted the Nigerian situation boldly. They held the grounds that what they did was common in Nigeria, even among the high and mighty.

They questioned the partiality of the law in seeming to target the poor, the weak and those without enough connections to avoid prosecution. Our law tends to be ferociously against ordinary people. Those who cannot afford legal services could be locked up for decades, awaiting trial. It is hard to fault the position that our law is against them.

How do Nigerians survive without resorting to crimes? Can Nigerians survive without breaking laws or engaging in crimes? Are we so concerned with those who are caught that we forget that so much could be going on undetected? Would the law understand that a country that fails in its responsibilities to its citizens breeds criminals? Why are those who breach the Constitution, after swearing to uphold it, saints?

Section 16 (2d) of the Constitution states, “The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”

Which state policies were premised on the provisions of Section 16 (2d) since 1999? Unfortunately, robbery suspects are drawing attention to the unconscionable neglect of Nigerians.

 

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Robbers justify crime by accusing politicians of stealing too

Fear as gunmen raid Odigie-Oyegun"s house in Abuja

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The All Progressives Congress has raised the alarm over the safety of its National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, and his family after his residence in Abuja was raided in the early hours of Monday by armed invaders.

APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun

In a statement in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while hoping that a police investigation would unravel what happened, it was either those who attacked the residence at 1.30 am were robbers or assassins.

It said while Odigie-Oyegun was away attending a previously unscheduled meeting in Abuja when the invaders struck, his wife who was at home, was left deeply traumatised by the raid

”The facts of the raid as available so far point to a sinister motive. For example, only Chief Oyegun’s room was ransacked in the whole house. Common sense dictates that if the invaders were robbers, they would have ransacked the whole house in search of money and other valuables which they might have believed were in the residence

”The invaders, two burly men, removed the window burglar bars to gain access to the residence from the back, and then made straight for the bedroom of our National Chairman. Police security was in place at the residence when the incident happened,” APC said.

The party said while it did not know who was behind the raid, it was worth noting that the angry rhetoric and vitriolic personality attacks that had been directed at the opposition by the top leadership of the ruling PDP and their spokesmen had heightened tension and put the lives of opposition politicians at risk, ahead of the forthcoming elections.

It expressed gratitude to God for saving the lives of the APC National Chairman and his wife, wondering what would have happened if the Chairman had been at home at the time of the raid.

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Fear as gunmen raid Odigie-Oyegun"s house in Abuja

Two suspected robbers, kidnappers killed in Benin

The Police in Edo State have shot dead two suspected armed robbers and kidnappers along the Benin-Auchi Bypass, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.

policemen

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Noble Uwoh, the two suspects were among a group of “daredevil” hoodlums intercepted by a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command while on a routine patrol of the area.

Uwoh explained that the group of bandits, who had been terrorising commuters along the expressway, opened fire on the vehicle of the security operatives, which led to a gun duel with the police officers.

According to him, the suspected armed robbers died on their way to hospital for treatment as a result of fatal injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.

He also said the command recovered some arms and ammunition which include one AK47 rifle and 83 rounds of live ammunition, one pump action gun, 97 live cartridges and 10 expended cartridges.

Others are three AK47 rifle magazines, one face mask, one marine rope, suspected to be used for tying kidnap victims, and six mobile phones.

While assuring the general public that the command would not relent in its effort to maintain peace in the state, the police spokesperson, however, stated that efforts were being made to track down other members of the gang, who fled into the bush with possible bullet wounds.

“The command wishes to enjoin members of the public, especially owners of clinics and hospitals to report anyone found with bullet wounds to the nearest police station,” Uwoh added.

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Two suspected robbers, kidnappers killed in Benin

Another South African soccer star targeted in armed robbery

Johannesburg, South Africa – Gunmen have robbed the parents of another South African international football star, Sibusiso Vilakazi, while he was sleeping at their Johannesburg home, in an attack he claims was targeted at him.

Police and the midfielder for the national team Bafana Bafana said the robbers held up his family at gunpoint at his parents’ house in Soweto township and stole an array of valuables.

The attack shortly after midnight on Saturday came just under a week after national football captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was gunned down in what police said was a robbery that went “horribly wrong”.

The burglars stormed in and asked for Vilakazi by name while he slept in a backyard room.

“Those people knew what they wanted. They came looking for me,” the 24-year-old who captains local club Bidvest Wits, told local Eye Witness News.

The robbers also asked his parents to hand over his car keys before making off with cellphones, cash, a television set, his parents’ wedding rings and clothing.

“Everything happened when I was sleeping and I didn’t hear anything,” said Vilakazi. “Imagine if I woke up and went in what would have happened.”

Vilakazi’s teammate Meyiwa was shot dead while visiting his girlfriend last week in another suburb of Johannesburg, in a attack that shocked the crime-weary nation.

On Tuesday, Vilakazi was named in the 26-man Bafana Bafana squad that will host Sudan on November 15 in Durban before travelling to west Africa for a November 19 final-round clash with Nigeria.

Police spokesman Kay Makhubele told AFP that a manhunt for three suspects has been launched.

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Another South African soccer star targeted in armed robbery

Enugu police arraign three over stolen mace

The Enugu State Command Police Force has arraigned three persons before a chief magistrates’ court for allegedly stealing the mace of the legislative council of Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects Umuokeke Izunna Romeo, Okolo Olisa Solomon and Enekwechi Ray Onyimba, were charged with conspiracy, breaking and entry, malicious damage and unlawful possession.

According to the police, the suspects, with others still at large, had on October 28, allegedly forcefully broking into the offices of the legislative council, stealing the mace and also damaging other properties in the complex.

The police said the suspects fled after committing the alleged offence, but, unfortunately for them, were arrested by operatives at Agbogugu junction.

The stolen mace and other materials were recovered from the vehicle conveying the suspects.

The suspects have been remanded in Oji River prison, Enugu, while the case has been adjourned to November 7 for hearing of their bail application.

The Enugu State police command said it has intensified efforts to apprehend the accomplices of the suspects, who are still at large.

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Enugu police arraign three over stolen mace

Policemen arrest seven robbers at Savannah Bank

Seven young men were arrested by a team of anti- robbery policemen attached to Area A Police Command, Lion Building, Lagos, while looting the properties of the distressed Savannah bank.

The incident occurred around 8.30am on Friday at the bank’s head office in Broad Street, Lagos Island.

The suspects who were all teenagers are – Ibrahim Luka, Kunle Malik, Sheriff Lawal, Tunde Basiru,  Arif Sarumi, Lukman Ojikutu and  Fidelis Joshua.

They were burgling the building before policemen swooped on them following a tip-off from angry residents.

“Distress call was received from Ikeja control room that some armed robbers were operating at Savannah Bank, Broad Street. The policemen stormed the area and these boys were arrested,” a police source said.

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Policemen arrest seven robbers at Savannah Bank

Lagos Command Arrests Robbers Using Police Uniforms

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested members of an armed robbery gang, who made use of Mobile Police uniforms to perpetrate their acts in the state.

The four members are Julius George, Samuel Orgah, Lucky Oliseh and Lucky Friday. Our correspondent learnt that they were rounded up on Sunday, June 22, at the Ile Zik area on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

It was further gathered that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off to the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, who directed men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by SP Abba Kyari, to go after them.

Our correspondent learnt that the gang had earlier escaped arrest during a robbery operation involving a trailer of iron rods valued at N80m.

From their confessions, it was gathered that other operations of the gang included robbing a trailer load of rice at Oju-Elegba area worth N4.5m and that of a tanker carrying engine oil worth N11m.

However, they were arrested during the Ile Zik area operation, which was said to be their fourth operation, and involving about N8m.

The suspects confessed to the police that George, before the operations, had promised to provide them with police uniforms, which he did.

The 34-year-old George from Otupko, Benue State, who is also said to be the gang leader, confessed that he lied to other members of the gang that he was a policeman.

George, whose nickname is Mopol, added that he had bought the Mobile Police uniforms from a market and given them to his gang members.

He said, “This was not the first time we would use police uniforms for robbery. In 2013, I was arrested by the police and charged to court. I was remanded for some time, but my family came and I was released on bail. Later, the court discharged me for want of evidence.

“While in remand at the Kirikiri Prisons, I met Sam (Orgah). When I came out of prisons, a friend of mine called Benjamin invited me again for another job. I was asked to escort a truck of engine oil from Apapa to Mushin, because they still regarded me as a policeman. They paid me N5,000 when they offloaded.”

George, who is married with children and lived in Olorunshobare Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos confessed that he had also partaken in robbery operations on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

However, 33-year-old Orgah also from Otukpo, Benue State, in his own confession, said he had earlier been arrested for armed robbery in 2011, and had come out of prison in 2013. He added that he used to rob cars in the Epe area, and was making use of a locally-made gun purchased from one Suleiman.

For Oliseh, who hails from Amai, Delta State, he met George only three weeks before their arrest when the latter invited him for the N8m robbery in Ile Zik area.

Thirty-three-year-old Friday, who is from Jessey, Delta State, and worked at a Shipping company in Apapa Wharf, said he met George three months ago at Iyana -Oba where they became friends.

“I have never gone on an operation with Mopol before. He only invited me to come with him to collect money. I did not know it was robbery,” he said.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed that the gang members were arrested during a robbery operation where they had worn a T-shirt with a ‘Mopol’ inscription.

She said, “They are not policemen. They were arrested during a robbery operation in a T-shirt with an inscription, ‘Mopol’. The SARS is still investigating.”

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Lagos Command Arrests Robbers Using Police Uniforms

Robbers Shoot Policeman In Church

Armed robbery suspects yesterday invaded a telecommunication shop owned by the Saint Theresa Catholic Church, Abakaliki carting away computer sets and other equipment owned by the church.

According to an eyewitness, “the robbers came into the church premises, parked their car inside, walked straight to the shop and demanded for a samsung Galaxy phone”.

The eyewitness who said the robbers invaded the church at about 12 noon pretended to be customers, “while the sales attendants were about to attend to them, one of the robbers brought out a gun and ordered them to lie down and silently carted away the telecommunication items”.

The eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said after robbing the shop,  the robbers made to go away but one of the sales attendant stood up and went after them,  raising the alarm.

He said: “At that point, a policeman who was in the church premises to procure a herbal medicine caught hold of one of the robbers but the other one shot him officer on the left hand”.

“The robbers, having succeeded in shooting the police officer, raced to their waiting vehicle where two other members of the gang where waiting in the vehicle and zoomed off un-caught”.

“To ease his escape, one of the robbers threw away two laptops he carted away”.

Some of the items carted away by the hoodlums included computer sets, i-Pads, laptops, digital cameras, hand sets and other information technology facilities worth millions of naira.

When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO, ASP, Chris Anyanwu, confirmed the incident.

Anyanwu said that the shot police officer was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Abakaliki.

Robbers Shoot Policeman In Church