Beninoise herbalist, Rasheed Akinola, yesterday admitted being the armourer of a gang of trans-border robbers specialising in snatching posh vehicles in Nigeria and moving them to Cotonou in Benin.
He was paraded by Lagos Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal with three members of the gang – Ajagba Hammed, 30, alias John T; Tobinju Potel, 35, aka Popo and Botan Remmy, 30.
Akinola said he smuggled weapons into Nigeria through bush path, adding that they paid him N15,000.
He said he prepared charms for the hoodlums, which he claimed ensured their safety and success.
Akinola said: “They came to my place in Port-Novo, Benin Republic, to collect charms to protect them during robbery. I collected CFA 30,000 for the charms. I have also helped them to cross arms through Idiroko for N15,000 per transaction. I have only done that twice. The charms protected them. I was arrested at Mile Two in Lagos.”
The gang leader, Hammed, said he got the guns from a man, simply called Benedict, a car dealer in Cotonou.
He said Benedict was his godfather, adding that he snatched expensive cars, took them to the dealer who gave him any amount he deemed fit.
Hammed said: “It was Popo who called us to come and rob this year. We have robbed twice. A car dealer collects the vehicles and he gives us anything he feels like. He gives us guns. He is my chairman. For that Prado, he gave us CFA300,000.”
Potel claimed a Nigerian driver invited them to rob, adding that he took one of the two vehicles they stole in the country.
Edgal said the suspects were caught on January 20, about 9 pm, after they snatched two Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) belonging to Olayinka Oyebola and Fidel Onwodi on Victoria Island and Ikoyi.
He said the criminals abandoned Oyebola’s vehicle, which they snatched at Babatunde Crescent, Oniru, Victoria Island, because they suspected it had a tracker and then went after Onwodi, who stopped on Kingsway Road, Ikoyi, with his wife to buy beef barbecue.
The police commissioner said the criminals confined the couple to the back seat, but Mrs. Onwodi took advantage of a gridlock and jumped off before they got to Third Mainland Bridge.
He said an AK 47, marked PE-2473, 43 AK 49, live ammunition, a locally-made cut to size double barrel gun, six live cartridges, a number plate JD697KJA and charms were recovered from them.
Edgal said: “The criminals stripped their first victim, Oyebola, naked, took him to Ajah/Epe Road and pushed him off the vehicle. They made way with his smart phone and N45,000, which he withdrew from Zenith Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM) point at Ajose Adeogun.
“They continued their journey until they got to Ikoyi, opposite Southern Sun Hotel, where they saw another Toyota Prado SUV marked ABC853LK, driven by Fidel Onwodi, accompanied by his wife.
“The couple had parked to buy beef barbecue. The robbers parked beside Onwodi’s SUV and ordered the couple to move to the rear of the vehicle.
“The man’s wife summoned courage and jumped off the moving vehicle. She took advantage of the slow traffic. The criminals continued moving and abandoned her husband on Third Mainland Bridge.
“They made away with his SUV, while that of Oyebola was parked at Babatunde Crescent, Oniru, where undercover operatives recovered it.
“The suspects confessed to robberies in which posh cars were snatched at gunpoint. They also confessed that Onwodi’s car was in Cotonou. Investigation is on. The suspects have owned up to the crime and are assisting the police with information that will help in recovering the Prado SUV in Cotonou and arrest other gang members.”