The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ARMED ROBBERY

  • Two to die by hanging for armed robbery

    An Ikeja High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced two men, Omoilodan Seun and Gbenga Kayode, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

    Justice Atinuke Ipaye condemned them after finding them guilty.

    The lead prosecution counsel, Mr Akin George, a Chief State counsel said the convicts robbed  one Alhaji Jinadu of phones and money on November 2, 2011 and Rilwan Gbadamosi and his wife on November 9 of the same year.

    He said the offences were committed at Ayangburen Road, Ikorodu.

    According to the prosecution, the offence is contrary to Section 295 subsection (2)(b) of the Criminal law of Lagos State.

    During trial, the convicts pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge preferred against them.

    In his allocutus, the convicts’ counsel, Damola Victor, urged the court to tender justice with mercy because his clients were first time offenders.

  • Two charged with armed robbery

    Two charged with armed robbery

    Two men have been accused of robbing a speedboat operator of cash and other items valued at N1.3 million in the Agura area of Ikorodu, Lagos.

    It was alleged that last November 24, Olawale Majeofodun (39) and Obapolo Benjamin (27) from Igbokoda in Ondo State, and three others accosted one Sunday Elebiju while he was standing near his speedboat at Agura.

    They threatened to kill him with guns and charms and ordered him to take them in his boat to an unknown destination. When they got there, he was robbed of N500,000 cash and a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phone valued at N50,000.

    The men also removed the speedboat engine valued at N750,000 before escaping.

    They were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), and arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Ikorodu last Friday, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and robbery.

    Prosecuting Corporal Abosede Adegesin said the men committed the offence while armed with two locally made guns.

    The offences, she said, were punishable under Sections 409 and 295(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    Their pleas were not taken.

    Chief Magistrate O. O. Olatunji directed that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). He ordered that the men be remanded in prison custody, pending the DPP’s advice.

    The case was adjourned till February 25.

     

  • Man to die by hanging for armed robbery

    Man to die by hanging for armed robbery

    A Lagos High Court, sitting in Igbosere has sentenced a man to death by hanging for armed robbery. The trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, had found the convict, Rasak Ogedengbe, guilty of a two count offence of robbery and conspiracy, contrary to and punishable under Section 403  and 402 of the criminal code law of Lagos State 2003.

    Ogedengbe, aged 25, on the faithful day, had, along with another person at large, attacked the family of one Mr. Chukwujekwu, who just returned from church at Ejigbo area of the state, with guns.

    The convict during the operation allegedly catered away some of their valuables, which included money, wrist watches, phones, among others.

    The victim had reported the robbery at Ejigbo police station.

    But as the victim stepped out of the police station, he saw his attacker in the police van already arrested by the police. The police searched the polythene bag with the convict and found some of the valuables catered away from the victim’s house. The convict, during trial, did not produce any witness nor pleaded not guilty to the offence.

    The Prosecution on the other hand called two witnesses to testify and all their evidence were taken by the court. Delivering her judgment, the trial judge, Justice Akinlade, held that the defendant was guilty of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

    She further held that the prosecution has proved the elements of armed robbery and conspiracy beyond reasonable doubt. Justice Akinlade therefore found the convict guilty as charged and accordingly sentenced him to death by hanging.

  • Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    Police smash robbery gang in Ebonyi

    The recent onslaught against the men of the underworld in Ebonyi state has led to the arrest of 18 persons on suspicion of committing various crimes ranging from armed robbery, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, cultism, vandalism etc, Ebonyi Command of the Nigerian Police have said.

    Nine of the suspects were paraded to reporters on Tuesday at the Command’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.

    According to the CP Peace Abdallah Ibekwe, three of the suspects Ndubuisi Iseh, Uchenna Nweke and Sunday Elom were arrested while planning to embark on a robbery attack.

    She said the gang had attacked a police patrol team at Evangel Camp Junction Okpoto Ishielu along the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway in the wee hours of the morning and inflicted bullet and machete cut wounds on them and snatched three AK47 riffles and twenty rounds of ammunition in each of the riffles.

    “While the Police officers are hospitalized, the command through intelligence led policing, diligence and gallantry smashed an intended robbery attack by the same gang the three suspects.

    “The three AK47 riffles were recovered with thirteen live ammunitions. The suspects confessed that they had planned to block Lokoja/Abuja Highway to rob innocent citizens before the command aborted their planned operations”

    She said efforts are still on to track the rest of the fleeing suspects.

    CP Ibekwe also said three other suspects Samuel Agha, Francis Okoro and Chukwu Ogbonnaya were arrested for being in possession of four locally made pistols and four live cartridges and have since been charged to court.

    Also the command arrested one Onyema Nwali, John Nwopokwu and Friday Nwakpa at Ihoto Ameka Ezza South on a tip off and recovered an AK47 from them.

    The command also swooped on a meeting of a cult group known as the Vikings Confraternity who took to their heels and in the process dropped a pistol which was recovered.

    “Again one Nnanna Igwe and Ugbu John were arrested on a tip off while planning an armed robbery operation. One locally made pistol, a live ammunition and one expended cartridge were recovered by the Police,” the CP added.

    The CP said the Police patrol team intercepted one Kelechi Alo at Abaomege-Afikpo Highway and recovered four newly made local pistols with thirteen 9mm live ammunitions from him.

    She further stated that the command’s officers in conjunction with Commercial bicycle (Okada) operators arrested two robbers who robbed two passengers on Okada dispossessing both of them of a total sum of N81,400.

    She commended the Okada operators who trailed the robbery suspects and alerted the police to effect their arrests.

    The command, the CP said, also arrested one Ndubuisi Ogbonnia and Chinedu Gabriel all of Amasiri Community in Afikpo North as they vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole the armored cables. The two suspects were charged to court where they pleaded guilty and were convicted.

    “In the same vein, one Odinaka Nwafor of Ezza Effium and Sunday Akpu of Igbudu Ekka village in Ezza South LGA vandalized EEDC Transformer and stole armored cables at Ndufu Echara village in Izzi LGA. They were arrested and later arraigned in court where they are still facing trial”.

    CP Peace restated her earlier warning to criminals to leave the state or be ready to face the onslaught of the command which have been re- strategized and re-organized for effective policing of the state.

    While appreciating the support and cooperation of relevant stakeholders, CP peace Ibekwe assured residents of the state during the yuletide and at all times.

    “The Command will continue in its efforts to stamp out criminality in the state. The Nigerian Police is driven by a leadership that demands excellence and commitment to selfless service to all Nigerians,” she concluded.

    One of the suspects, Ndubuisi Iseh confessed to the crime.

    He, however, said he was lured into the gang after they had already attacked the Police and robbed them of the guns.

  • Nigeria and the menace of armed robbery

    Armed robbery occurs when someone attempts to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and or by putting the victim in fear.

    Robberies can occur almost anywhere at any time, but tend to occur more often in anticipated settings and at expected times. All that is necessary is a motivated robber and an unwilling victim at the wrong place at the wrong time. Robberies can occur in private or public spaces. Robbers and their victims can be friends, relatives, or total strangers. Most robberies involve one robber and one victim and the crime from start to finish lasts less than a minute. Most commercial robbery victims are not injured during the transaction as long as long as they don’t resist. A shoplifter can also commit the crime of robbery if they fight with store personnel who try to stop them from getting what they want.

    Armed robbery is a global phenomenon as there is no country that is immune to it. Though, the level of occurrence differs from one country to the other. In neighbouring Ghana, amidst the harsh realities of poverty, hunger, starvation, and joblessness, Ghanaians are also been subjected to out-of-control armed robbery cases. Unfortunately, the government seems to have no strategy in place at this moment to fight back. Though the present administration in the country is working hard to find a lasting solution to the nation’s ailing economy, but if it is not yet winning the battle against armed robbery. Today, armed robbery is not only one of the biggest threat in Ghana, but also a social scourge, which is a bad news in the ears of prospective foreign investor. Even Ghanaian citizens living inside and outside the country are concerned about the spate of armed robbery activity in Ghana.

    In the United States, despite advancement in technology, old-fashioned bank robbery cases are still a cause for concern. In 2011 alone, in the United State more than $30 million was stolen and just over 100 people killed or injured in some 5,000 robberies of financial institutions reported across the nation. The FBI has had a primary role in bank robbery investigations since the 1930s, when John Dillinger and his gang were robbing banks and capturing the public’s imagination. In 1934, it became a federal crime to rob any national bank or state member bank of the Federal Reserve. The law soon expanded to include bank burglary, larceny, and similar crimes, with jurisdiction delegated to the FBI. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports, 447,403 robberies were reported to the police at the rate of one per minute in the United States.

    Over the years, crime rate in Nigeria has risen to an alarming height. Cases of armed robbery occurrence, pickpockets and shoplifting have increased due to increased level of poverty among the populace. The crime rate in any country is directly tied to the level of poverty in the country. No doubt, the rate of unemployment in Nigeria has become high as thousands of graduates leave school without any hope of getting a decent job. While social services are unavailable to those without jobs, millions of Nigerians watch helplessly as corrupt leaders loot the nation’s treasury with reckless abandon.

    Sadly, the corruption and unemployment situation compound the social problems in the country as many unemployed youth easily turn to crime as a way to make ends meet or in defiance of the society that has failed to provide for their basic needs. The reasons for increase in the crime rate in Nigeria are, however, not meant to validate the actions of those who perpetuate armed robbery or any similarly related crimes.

    Most people think of robberies as those committed against banks or at late-night retail establishments like fuel stations or shopping malls where a gun is used to force the cashier to hand over the money. However, most robberies occur on the street, directly against a person. When someone uses force or fear against you to steal your car, it is called carjacking and this is quite common in major cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Kano and Jos among others.

    Particularly, in Lagos robbery cases are rampant   along the border axis and other dark spots. Recently, a different kind of robbery act, which was quite audacious in outlook, occurred at Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, Lagos state. A lady reportedly led the gang to the banks and stayed outside while the over two hour’s operation lasted. The leader of the gang was said to have sat down in front of the bank bragging, and no police officer was able to confront her. She reportedly tied charm around her neck. It was disclosed that the gang that carried out the robbery consisted of about 15 youngsters whose ages should not be more than 20-years.The bank’s safe, as reported, was broken with the use of dynamite and the staffs were made to lie on the floor while the robbery continued. The young robbers reportedly to have burnt three of their vehicles in front of Origin Gardens, a recreational place not far from the scene of the incident, and escaped via the ferry service operated beside the Gardens.

     It is important for people to know that most armed robbery attacks are based on information from someone who knows you to someone who is into criminal acts. For example, if you bring a lot of cash home, you can be sure you are likely to be a victim of armed robbery attack. This is because someone that is aware that you have cash at home is likely to inform people who might come for the cash. Someone close to you will likely betray your confidence when he knows you have a lot of cash at home. The informant could be leaked from your driver, cook, security personnel, or anyone else close to you. In some cases, it could even be from your spouse or children! Therefore, it is not wise to keep a huge amount of cash at home. Also, it is not smart to give vital information, especially about one’s business transactions to just anybody.

    With the current spate of insecurity arising from insurgents’ activities in the northern part of the country, everything must be done by everyone to ensure that armed robbery attacks and other criminal activities are reduced to the barest minimum.

    Oputeh, is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Court frees guard of armed robbery

    An Ikeja High Court in Lagos yesterday freed a 30-year-old security guard, Donald Oche, of armed robbery.

    Justice Sedoten Ogunsanya said his order followed the prosecution’s failure to prove its case against Oche.

    Oche was arraigned before Justice Ogunsanya on December 20, 2013 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery.

    During the trial, the prosecutor, Mr Adebayo Haroun, claimed that Oche committed the offence with other accomplices, who are now at large at 3a.m on February 24, 2011 at 551, Ikorodu Road, Ketu, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant and his accomplices robbed Mr Falayi Olabusuyi, a partner in Auto World Venture, of 28 laptop computers, armed with a cutlass and other dangerous weapons.

    “Oche and his accomplices, who were armed with a cutlass and other dangerous weapons, made away with 28 laptop computers during the robbery”, the prosecutor said.

    He said the offence contravened sections 402(2)(a) and 403(a) of the Criminal Law.

    Acquitting the defendant, Justice Ogunsanya held that the prosecution witnesses, who were police officers, gave inconsistent testimonies.

  • Alleged armed robbery: Army to discipline soldier

    Modalities have been put in place to discipline a soldier who allegedly robbed a 21 year-old boy of N250,000 in Aba, Abia State, the Nigerian Army has said.

    Lance Corporal Itugbu Omorodion serving at the 14 Brigade located in Ohafia was arrested by the Police after he allegedly dispossessed his victim of the said cash.

    Omorodion was alleged to have attacked his victim identified as Ebuka with a dagger and robbed him of N250,000 which he was going to deposit for his boss in one of the commercial banks on Faulks road in the city.

    It was gathered that the victim after being robbed, raised the alarm which attracted passers-by who alerted policemen on patrol in the area. This  led to the soldier’s arrest.

    Frowning at the news,  the army has stated that Omorodion had no business being at Aba at the time he was arrested because he was granted five days pass to see his family in Edo State.

    A statement by the Brigade’s spokesman, Captain Sydney Mgbemena said that relevant offices have been notified to investigate and take appropriate actions.

    “The Brigade condemns the alleged action of the soldier in its entirety. It is wrong for personnel who has the constitutional powers of protecting the citizenry to turn against them.

    “The soldier had no business being in Aba at the time he was alleged to have committed the crime. He was granted five days pass to visit his family in Benin prior to the incident. Instead of proceeding to Benin he diverted to Aba allegedly to hatch the crime.

    “The brigade views the conduct of the soldier as a serious offence and passionately urged the public not to allow actions of the soldier affect their earlier impression considering the track record the army has established over the years with regards to the overall security of Aba and Abia State.”

  • Gunmen kill Lord’s Chosen Pastor in Lagos

    Gunmen kill Lord’s Chosen Pastor in Lagos

    Suspected armed robbers on Monday killed a senior pastor at the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries.

    The deceased, Pastor Chukwuemeka Akpokpo according to church members, was the Lagos zonal coordinator of the church founded by Lazarus Mouka, which has its headquarters in Ijesha, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    It was learned that Akpokpo was gunned down by men operating on three motorcycles, who according to sources trailed him from a commercial bank around Apple Junction in Festac, Amuwo Odofin.

    It was gathered that his assailants shot him severally to ensure he was dead before they sped off with the three million Naira (N3million) he was said to have withdrawn from the bank.

    The Nation reports that there have been several incidences of motorcyclists ambushing bank customers along the busy Oshodi Apapa Expressway, with no arrest made by the police.

    When the news of Akpokpo’s death broke in the church and his body brought, the church members reportedly prayed from that time till about 8pm, hoping a miracle will happen and he would resurrect.

    The Pastor is believed to have had premonition about his death, as a church member was said to have claimed he complained of tiredness all Sunday night.

    The said member had told others he slept in the same place with Akpokpo on Sunday night because they attended a crusade in Ogun state over the weekend.

    According to one Mrs. Onyinye, Akpokpo was killed around 12pm on Monday.

    The woman who said the Pastor was married with young children but does not know his residence, wondered why his assailants did not take the money and spare his life.

    Onyinye who said the zonal pastor’s killers were hired assassins, explained that Akpokpo left his car and ran into the bush for safety but his assailants went after him.

    “They started trailing him before he got to the bank. When he noticed they were pursuing him. He left his car and ran away. He ran into the bush and they followed him.

    “We heard that his killers while shooting him said he should come and collect the post. It is not the first time they have attempted to kill him.

    “There was a day he parked his car but before he could come out, all his tyres have been deflated. So, I don’t think it was just a case of armed robbery. They are hired assassins,” she maintained.

    Similarly, one Mathew corroborated Chineye’s theory of assassination,  adding that there are a lot of people who envied Akpokpo’s position as zonal coordinator in charge of Lagos.

    “Pastor Emeka (Akpokpo) might have been assassinated by those who are envious of his position.

    “Aside being zonal coordinator, he is in-charge of building and I am sure he was killed by some envious people who want to take over his seat.

    “Many see him as being too favoured by the General overseer of the Church, (Mouka). Many of them were jealous of the Pastor who was trusted by the GO.

    “In fact, the church did not believe it that the Pastor was actually dead. When his corpse was brought to the Church, we kept praying from 12.30 to 8p.m hoping that God would revive him because, we love him so much.

    He was later taken to his home town, near Umuahia, Abia state around 8pm. Insisting that the deceased was assassinated, Matthew said his killers ensured he was dead before they left him.

    He urged the police to consider other options and not just conclude that Akpokpo’s killers were armed robbers because they collected money.

    He said: “Why I said so is that the Pastor offered all he had to the gunmen and they still went ahead to kill him.

    “He was shot severally till he gave up the ghost. His killers made sure that they pumped enough bullets into his body and made sure that he died before they left the scene.

    “If it was armed robbery attack, the robbers would have collected the money and left in a hurry, but the killers made sure they remained till he finally died.”

    But another Church member, Madu however felt the bank staff must have conspired with the armed men to dispossess Akpokpo of the money.

    He urged the police to interrogate the bank officer in-charge of the account the money was withdrawn from, adding that the person was aware the Pastor was coming to make such withdrawals.

    “I can bet you that the robbery was an insider’s connection either from the bank or the church. He already notified the account officer he was coming for the money before leaving the Church.

    “He was actually trailed to the bank by the robbers. The Police should interrogate the account officer of the bank,” said Madu.

    When contacted the police spokesman for the state, DSP Ken Nwosu confirmed the incident.
    He however stated that the Pastor was gunned by two armed men who operated on a motorcycle, adding that investigations were ongoing to unravel the culprits.

  • Arrested Ikoyi armed robbers narrate operations

    Arrested Ikoyi armed robbers narrate operations

    FOUR of the 11-man gang that killed three policemen and two civilians in the March 12 Lekki, Lagos bank robbery have been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    Duke Odogbo, 38; Lawrence Kingsley, 31; Ebi Tosan, 20, and Ekelemo Kuete, 30, were paraded in Ikeja yesterday by Police Commissioner Kayode Aderanti with the exhibits recovered from them. Among the exhibits are a Honda Accord 2008 Model (Evil Spirit), one white blackberry Z10 phone, one white Apple I5, one military cap and 130 expended ammunitions.

    The casualties were Inspector Bethel Agbola, Sergeant Odehohwo George, Corporal Imosisiu Ikechukwu, Mr Sowemimo Kabiru and Sarah Ibikunle, 15, fish seller around the area.

    Odogbo who hails from Warri North in Delta State, said: “We are 11 in number. We came with two boats but one had problem, so we used only one. We came with seven rifles. The extra three rifles that brought our total rifles to 10 belonged to the three policemen killed by my gang. They were not posted to the bank. My members saw them on road patrol. They interfered and they shot them dead and took their three rifles.

    “I was the first to fire a warning shot when we entered the bank, a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) located on Admiralty Way. We collected N15million from the bank’s vault. We sprayed out the money from ATM machine.

    They gave me N500,000 as my own share. I was arrested in my house in Warri.”

    Aderanti said after the movie-like action, he convened a meeting of all commanders of combat units including Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Operatives, Department of Investigation, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), SARS, Special Investigation Bureau (SIB), Marine and Police Mobile Force (PMF), mandating them that the perpetrators must be fished out.

    Aderanti said based on intelligence, six Decoy SARS teams were dispatched to Delta, Ogun, Ondo states and Ikorodu, Lagos under his supervision.

    These efforts, he said, paid off on March 20 when Odogbo, the gang’s leader was picked up in Warri, Delta State. Kuete, who drove one of the speed boats, was picked up in Majidun, Ikorodu; Kingsley and Tosan were later arrested.

    The suspects, he said, had confessed, adding that efforts were being intensified to arrest their fleeing accomplices.

  • Police gun down armed robbery leader

    A leader of a six-team gang of armed bandits terrorising motorists along Ife-Akure Expressway simply identified as Abey has been gunned down by the police.

    The 28 year old popularly known as Iku (meaning Death) always robbed travellers of their money and valuables along this road.‎
    ‎
    ‎A team of Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) from Osun State Police Command was said to have fished him and his men out from his hide out in Modakeke‎.

    ‎Abbey, who also allegedly engaged in bank robbery was said to have been killed while trying to escape arrest by the crack  squad led by the SARS Officer in Charge, DSP Omoyele Adekunle.

    Adekunle disclosed that the three of the gang, Dayo Adebanpe 28, a motor mechanic from Ile-Ife, Kunle Adepoju, 23 an okada rider also from Ile-Ife, and Mathias Aleke, 27, also an okada rider from Modakeke  confessed that they, and their gang leader, the late Abbey, were responsible for the gruesome murder of one Dr Oluwasina Oyesomi who worked with a General Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, on January 30, 2015.

    He said the man was travelling from Ekiti to Ikirun in Osun State on a visit to his family via Ife-Akure Road when he was shot by the deadly late Abbey.

    It was gathered that his gang had on several other occasions maimed and killed their victims in the area until nemesis caught up with three of them three days ago following a tip off by some people of the activities.

    According to Adekunle, the suspects also confessed that they were the ones that carried out the robbery attack on a bank in Modakeke late last year after killing several people and carted away millions of naira.

    He disclosed that after the tip off, the SARS from the Osun State Police Command stormed the robbers’ hide out at Ife-Akure Road in the midnight where they were trying to block the road and holding up their victims.

    “As soon as they saw the police squad, they ran into the bush but were arrested by the police. During investigations by the police, they confessed that the late Abbey was their gang leader and gave the police information about his whereabouts in Modakeke.

    “When SARS got to Modakeke, they continued their investigations and got further tip off on the die-hard robbers and were able to locate his house close to a river through which he always escaped after embarking on any robbery attack.

    “They are armed robbers. Nemesis caught up with them at one of popular dark spot at Akilalo Junction along Ife-Akure Expressway three days ago when they were trying to block the road to rob travellers as usual and escape through the bush. Three of them were arrested by my men at the scene. They confessed to a series of robberies and mentioned their leader, one Abbey aka Iku. So, we stormed Abbey’s house in Modakeke  early Tuesday by 5.30 am to arrest him but he engaged us in a gun battle and died in the process,” Adekunle said.