The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbers

  • Robbers kill four policemen in Kogi

    Robbers kill four policemen in Kogi

    The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed the death of four mobile police officers in a robbery attack in Okene Local Government Area.

    The policemen died in a gun duel with robbers who stormed a new generation bank in Okene on Tuesday.

    Two policemen were killed in a similar circumstance, last Saturday, during a robbery attack in Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area.

    In a statement yesterday by police spokesman, Elvis Aguebor, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), the command said over 20 robbers killed the four police officers in the attack on the new generation bank in Okene.

    The statement reads: “The gunmen, as they emerged from four vehicles, fired sporadically into the bank premises, killing our men on duty. Their aim was to cart away money from the bank. But the remaining policemen at the bank, who were assisted by others deployed in the two adjoining banks, gunned down two of the robbers in an exchange of fire.”

    The statement added that the superior fire power of the policemen on ground prompted the “remaining robbers to abandon their devilish and unholy quest”.

    It said the fleeing robbers sustained bullet wounds.

    The command urged the public to report anyone with bullet wounds to the nearest police station or other security agents.

    The command reassured that it would make the Christmas and New Year celebrations hitch-free.

  • Two killed as robbers raid banks in Kogi

    Two killed as robbers raid banks in Kogi

    •Pupil hit by bullet 

    Robbers, who allegedly wrote to two communities in Kogi State – Egbe and Odo-Ere – of their plan to attack banks, last Thursday made good their threat. Egbe and Odo-Ere are neighbouring towns in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State.

    The two banks attacked by the robbers are located in the two communities.

    Two persons were killed during the robbers’ raqids on the banks in both towns.

    Until last Thursday’s attack, the two banks had operated smoothly for many years without an incident.

    The 25-man gang was said to have been heavily armed.

    The hoodlums were said to have arrived at Egbe at 5.14pm in two Highlander Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), dressed in hoods, took positions in two groups at the two banks.

    Simultaneously, the robbers attacked the two banks and the other facilities in the towns.

    Egbe, the commercial nerve centre of the local government and with a branch of a first generation bank, was literally sacked by the robbers.

    The hoodlums took over the police station as the policemen had run away before the robbers arrived.

    The policemen returned hours after the robbers had accomplished their mission.

    Their victims were left groaning in pains and losses. For 35 minutes, sounds of gunshots rented the air, leaving the highway in thick smoke as the trigger-happy hoodlums sprayed everywhere with bullets.

    Brave youths, who could not stomach the arrogance of the hoodlums, attempted to fight but had no means to confront the heavily armed gang.

    The youth blocked the highway with burning tyres and electricity poles to retard an easy escape for the robbers and make it easy for the police to arrest them.

    But the police were nowhere to be found.

    A Port Harcourt-based businessman, Mr Femi Bolaji, said he was on the premises of the first generation bank to use its ATM when the robbers arrived.

    He said he jumped through the fence of the bank, leaving his car behind.

    At Odo-Ere, the hoodlums also raided another first generation bank unchallenged.

    A police officer detailed to the bank was said to have opened fire on the gang from his hideout but that singular action of his bravery soon turned bloody.

    The gang sprayed bullets directly to his direction.

    A senior worker of Yagba West Local Government Area, Kayode Simoyan, was killed during the attack.

    He was found lying in the pool of his blood with bullets wounds on his head and chest.

    Another person, simply identified as Chichi and said to be an Igbo trader in Egbe, was also killed near the bank.

    A pupil returning from school was also hit by the robbers’ bullet. But he survived.

     

  • Robbers loot Ughelli Central Hospital

    Robbers early yesterday invaded the Ughelli Central Hospital in Delta State and stole an unspecified number of air conditioners.

    Although details of the incident were still sketchy last night, our reporter learnt that the hoodlums might have taken advantage of the inactivity at the hospital, because of the strike, to loot its property.

    Besides, the Medical Director, Dr. Moses Eyovwerhuvwu, declined to comment on the incident.

    He said: “I don’t talk to the press.”

    But a security officer at the hospital, who spoke in confidence, said the robbers entered the premises through the back fence leading to the doctor’s quarters.

    The source also said: “Owing to the ongoing industrial action, activities in the hospital were grounded. This enabled the robbers to easily carry out their operation.”

    Efforts to get the police to comment on the incident were unsuccessful.

    Police spokesman, Celestina Kalu, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area denied knowledge of the robbery.

  • Robbers kill pastor in Edo

    The pastor in charge of Evidence of the Gospel Church, Oko Central branch, Godfrey Agbonwaneten, has been shot dead by robbers.

    He was killed on Tuesday morning at his home at Okhunmwun community in Ovia North East Local Government Area.

    The robbers were said to have burgled several houses in the community before entering the pastor’s apartment by pulling down the burglary proof.

    Wife of the victim, Julie, said the incident occurred at 2:30am when her husband woke her up and informed her that robbers were in the next building.

    She said: “The next thing we heard was that they were breaking down our window. I didn’t know when my husband went to the room. I hear gunshots. I rushed to the room and saw my husband covered with blood.”

    The body has been deposited at a mortuary.

  • How we became robbers, by traders

    How we became robbers, by traders

    They are traders but their desperate search for wealth pushed them into robbery.

    Yesterday, two auto spare parts dealers at the popular Ladipo market in Lagos, Uche Chukwu (21) and Ndubisi Amehelu (28), said they became robers to make it “big” after losing their jobs.

    Chukwu said he took to armed robbery after he was sacked at a private security company.

    He was arrested with Amehelu by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command.

    Popularly called Omo Balanda (traders without shops), the suspects are being held for alleged robbery, snatching and selling stolen cars and motor parts.

    They expressed regrets that the police aborted their plan to get rich quick and celebrate Christmas “in a big way” with proceeds from crime.

    Chukwu, an Ikwere indigene in Rivers State, said when he was sacked, his salary was N25,000 monthly, adding: “Owing to my joblessness, I stayed at the Bolade bus stop and the rail line behind Ikeja Cantonment, where we smoked Indian hemp from morning till night. It was there that notorious gangs recruit members and that was where I was recruited.”

    Confessing that his first operation fetched him N15,000, Chukwu said one Felix took the stolen car to Benin, the Edo State capital. The second operation, which took place at the Lagos airport, he added, “was unsuccessful and that led to my arrest.”

    Amahelu said the arrest, two months ago, of a man who used to buy stolen cars from him led to his arrest and eventual remand at the Kirikiri Prisons, adding: “I was frustrated because my pregnant wife was trying to perfect my bail. I met a robber friend, Ogaga, in the prison. He taught me how to make money in prison. He introduced me to a buyer through whom I could get money to perfect my bail.

    “It worked out and I left the prison on November 5. He got me a buyer. As my case was coming up on November 19, the buyer promised to bring N100,000 deposit. It was after burying my mother when I followed them to Ifoh that SARS operatives arrested us.”

    A police source said their arrest followed a tip-off.

  • Man killed trying to disarm robbers

    A man identified simply as Nwachukwu was on Saturday night shot dead by robbers in his failed attempt to disarm one of the hoodlums.

    The man was reportedly killed at his Iguosa home in Ovia North East Local Government Local Government Area.

    It was learnt that that robbers entered the building when the victim’s wife went out at 5.30am to get some water.

    The robbers were said to have ordered her inside and demanded for her gold and other valuables.

    The victim’s daughter, who spoke in confidence for security reasons, said her father was killed when he attempted to disarm one of the robbers.

    She said: “My mother opened the door to go and fetch some water when the robbers followed her inside. They told my daddy to remove the gold on his neck but my daddy said it was not gold.

    “My daddy ran inside and the robbers asked my mummy to switch on the light. When she switched on the light, my daddy began to struggle with one of them. The robbers shot my daddy. That was how my daddy died.”

    The victim was taken to a mortuary in a white Hilux van belonging to the police.

    Efforts to get the confirmation from the police were unsuccessful.

  • Police arrest robbers in Lagos

    Police arrest robbers in Lagos

    THE road has ended for some armed robbers that had been unleashing terror on motorists on the Mile 2-Badagry, Mile 2-Apapa and Oshodi-Mile 2 roads in Lagos.

       Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command ended their reign.

    The suspects are: Olanrewaju Oladejo (21); Ibrahim Afolabi (23); Epic Okwaoji, Seyi, Popo and three others simply identified as Tata, Onyebuchi and Tony.

    A police source said they operated on September 29 at Suru Alaba bus stop in the Mile 2 area, attacking vehicles held up in traffic.

    Their first victim was Yetunde Kadoso, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), whose Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) was vandalised, while its side glasses got shattered.

    The suspects dispossessed her of a gold chain worth N250,000; one laptop valued N130,000; N75,000, 265 US dollars, one Nokia phone valued N65,000; an ATM card, police identity card and a handbag, the source said.

    The source said a Chinese, Fred Zhong Ginchang, was also attacked, adding that the suspects broke the side glasses of his Kia SUV and broke the forehead of his driver, John.

    They were said to have ransacked the vehicle and carted away one hand bag containing two laptops valued at N260,000; N140,000, three FCMB cheque books and another bag containing vital company documents.

    Unlike his accomplices, Olanrewaju was not lucky as John held him till when soldiers and policemen came to arrest him. He was taken to the Orile Police Station and later transferred to SARS for investigations. “He confessed and promised to help the police get the fleeing members of the gang,” said the source.

    Investigations revealed that Ibrahim was hiding in a smoking joint at the Cemetery Market, Ajegunle, behind the Ajeromi council’s secretariat, following which Olanrewaju led SARS operatives to arrest him. His arrest, it was learnt, led to that of Seyi and others. The operatives stormed Nasamu Street, Ajegunle on September 17 where Eric was arrested about 12 noon after Oladejo identified him.

    The police also recovered five live cartridges and one locally-made pistol which, according to Olanrewaju and Afolabi, are owned by Popo, Eric and Seyi.

    Olanrewaju, who claimed to be panel beater, said he was invited into the “business” by Seyi and Eric.

    “They told me that there was job and that my role would be to watch people. When we got to the traffic jam, they alighted and started robbing motorists of their valuables. We robbed one woman and one Chinese man. We were up to eight. When I was going after the operation, some people pointed at me, saying that I was one of them. Some soldiers and police around there arrested me and took me to Layeni Police Station. I was later handed over to Orile Police Station from where I was transferred to SARS where I saw the officer in charge (Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari) and promised to assist police in arresting others,” he said.

    Olanrewaju added: “The first operation, I got nothing. In the second, I was given N5,000, while the third operation near Alaba Market brought me to SARS. I derive joy in robbing rich men because they are selfish.”

    Ibrahim, who hails from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, said his role was to ransack their victims’ vehicles for money and other valuables. “If I am released, I will not rob again in my life. Smoking Indian hemp was what gave me the courage to join armed robbery gang,” he said.

  • Robbers kill bureau de change operator

    Robbers kill bureau de change operator

    bureau de change operator in Kaduna, Abdullahi Ibrahim (35), popularly called ‘Bayawa’ (no problem), was at the weekend stabbed to death by robbers at a hotel.

    The hoodlums escaped with N3 million.

    It was learnt that the late Ibrahim went to the hotel with N3 million last Saturday to meet prospective customers, who invited him for a business.

    Police spokesman Aminu Lawan said: “Information available to us was that a man lodged in the hotel and the deceased came with a big polythene bag and requested to see a guest. A call was put through to the guest who said the deceased should be allowed to see him.

    “The guest was later joined by two persons, but the three of them left one after the other, leaving the deceased in the hotel room. Because it was not time to check out, the receptionist did not question them. He checked the room when the deceased did not come out after the check out time, only to discover that the room was locked. He forced the door open and found the deceased lying lifeless in a pool of blood.”

    Lawan said the late Ibrahim was taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead. Doctors said he died after he was stabbed in the chest several times.

    Lawan said the police are on a hunt for Ibrahim’s killers.

    Spokesman of the Forex Traders Association in Kaduna Abdul Jalal Usman described the incident as “unfortunate”.

    Usman warned members against following clients to hidden places. He urged the police to bring Ibrahim’s killers to book.

  • Robbers kill couple, police orderly in Enugu

    A couple planning to wed last Saturday in Enugu was killed on Friday night by unknown gunmen.

    Three others, including a police orderly, were said to have been killed by the robbers.

    The couple, it was learnt, intended to wed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

    Police spokesman, Ebere Amarizu, said the gunmen robbed a filling station in the area and killed its manager.

    The groom was identified as Uzochukwu Eze.

    He was said to be in company of his bride when the robbers killed them at the filling station.

    Eze was said to have his wife-to-be in the car with the intention to drop her off at her home.

    When the robbers were escaping through Nike Lake Resort Road, they killed the police orderly attached to the wife of the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area.

    The police orderly was said to have alighted from the vehicle to ease the traffic at the Timber Market end of the road when the hoodlums disarmed and killed him.

     

  • Robbers to residents: We’re coming like Jesus

    Residents of Oseni, Nkanna, Owodunni and Lisabi streets in  Palmgrove, Lagos are living in fear following a notice of attack served on them by armed robbers.

    The notice, which was found on Saturday, was said to have been pasted on a car in one of the streets on Friday night.

    Since then, the neighbourhood has been abuzz with talks about the impending attack.

    “In the notice, the robbers specified that they would visit us to take what we owe them from us. I don’t know what to do now because it has happened elsewhere without the police coming to victims’ rescue,” a resident on Oseni street, who simply gave his name as Tolani told The Nation yesterday.

    “As you can see, I can’t go to the church today because the information has scattered my psyche. I spent a night with a friend in the Shasha area of Egbeda early this year when about 40 armed robbers swooped on the area for over four hours. They dispossessed us of money and other valuables; no policeman came to our rescue while it lasted. That was why I feel apprehensive now,” he added.

    Another resident on Owodunni Street, who spoke under anonymity, recalled that over 35 armed robbers laid siege to the place and Nkanna Street last year without help from any security agency.

    “Some of us who had the phone numbers of some policemen called repeatedly without any response. Even if they would respond, the refrain in such a situation would always be that they don’t have fuel in their vans; this is where my fear lies now. We still have to beg police authorities and the state government to come to our rescue because we are helpless,” he said.

    At a restaurant near the Lisabi Police Post, the issue was being discussed by some fear-stricken residents yesterday. They agreed to report the matter to the Ilupeju Police Station.

    One of them told The Nation: “I saw one of the notices where it was pasted on a car at Oseni street. They (the robbers) said they are not coming to harm any guard; they said they are coming like the second coming of Jesus Christ to collect what we owe them and that no security apparatus can deter them. I may likely relocate elsewhere tomorrow because I can’t endanger my life.”

    It was learnt yesterday that elders in the affected streets may meet to decide what to do. “Whether the police will act or not, we are reporting this to them because it is their duty to protect us,” one of them said.