The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbers

  • Robbers steal Ogun monarch’s personal effects

    Three-man robbery gang has waylaid the traditional ruler of Owode-Egba in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Kolawole Sowemimo.

    The hoodlums stole his vital personal effects.

    Oba Kolawole, who was jolted by the attack, said providence saved him from being killed.

    The monarch said the hoodlums used tyres to block his car, near Day Water Man stretch of Kobape-Siun Road in Abeokuta, and punched him when he attempted to evade the obstruction.

    The ruler said he was attacked at 8.45 pm on Sunday while returning to his domain in Owode, minutes after he dropped his child at a school in Abeokuta.

    The monarch told reporters that the robbers ordered him out of his Mercedes Benz car, searched it and stole personal effects.

    He said cash, wristwatch, two mobile phones, a ring, a bank debit card were among valuables the hoodlums snatched from him at gunpoint.

    Oba Kolawole added that his position as a monarch meant nothing to the robbers.

    The monarch said he reported the incident to the police.

    He said: “They were a three-man gang and armed. They placed used tyres on the road as a ploy to force motorists to stop. My car ran into them and they ordered me out at gunpoint.”

    Oba Kolawole said the robbers attempted to snatch his car but gave up trying when the engine failed to come on.

    The monarch said the robbers dispossessed occupants of a Volkswagen Golf car, which arrived on the scene at the time, and snatched the car from the friver.

    According to him, he used his car to convey other victims from the spot to Owode Police Station, where the incident was reported.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the command would investigate the incident.

     

  • Robbers injure seven Ibadan residents

    Robbers injure seven Ibadan residents

    Barely three days after a seven-man armed robbery gang raided residents of Tells Estate in Akobo area of Ibadan, Oyo state capital, another robbery gang on Monday night stormed Fenwa community in the city and carried out a house to house raid. 

    During the operation that lasted for about four hours, valuable items and cash were carted away by the 15-man armed robbery gang, while about seven residents of the community, located in Ido local government area, were injured. 

    However, members of the Otunba Gani Adams led Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), who stormed the community after receiving distress calls, prevented the men of the underworld from raiding more houses, and captured one robbers. 

    The OPC chairman in Ido local government area, Alhaji Muritala Adekola Ifawale, who led his members to the scene was reportedly shot by the robbers several times, but the bullets did not penetrate into his body. 

    After exhausting their bullets, the robbers reportedly took to their heels, as OPC members chased them and captured one of them who later identified himself as Ojo Adegboyega.

    The OPC members also recovered a green colour Honda CRV with registration number LAGOS LND 667 EU from the fleeing robbers.

    Speaking with journalists who visited the community yesterday morning, Adegboyega revealed that he joined the robbery gang after he was sacked by a company he was working with in Ikeja, Lagos. 

    He revealed further that one Roland Wisdom invited his gang for the Monday night operation in which he met his Waterloo. 

    Also speaking with newsmen, one of the injured residents of the community, Mr. Wasiu Adegoke, revealed that the some of N208,000 and other valuable items were carted away from his house by the hoodlums. 

    Adegoke, who had deep cuts on his head and blood stains all over his body, said he was hit on the head with  handle of the gun (grip) several times when struggling with the robbers. 

     Another injured resident of the community, Mr. Ogun Jimoh, revealed that the robbers  used clubs to hit him on the head after collecting mobile phones from him. 

    According to Ogun, “the robbers also shot at one of my neighbours popularly called Pastor. But God saved him, as he was able to dodge the bullet. The bullet was targeted at his head, but he quickly bent down, and the bullet hit the wall. 

    Chairman of the Landlord Association of the community, who refused to tell newsmen his name, informed that some of the injured people had been taken to hospital for medical treatment. 

    He also revealed that police had been informed about the incident, and that the captured member of the gang will be handed over to the police. 

    The community leader, however, informed that the most frightening thing is that the captured robber boasted that he would soon be set free, even if they (the landlords) take him to the Agodi Prison.

  • Robbers kill SUN’s circulation man at Onitsha

    •Police: we’re on trail of suspects

    The circulation representative of The SUN at Onitsha in Anambra State, Mr. Fabian Obi, was killed yesterday by a two-man robbery gang at the company’s office on Old Market Road.

    The hoodlums reportedly stormed the office at 8 a.m on motorcycle and were said to have collected a huge amount of money and shot the victim.

    The incident attracted several passersby.

    Those studying the security situation in the state in the past few months described it as bad.

    Police spokesperson Princess Nkeiruka Nwode, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), told reporters in Awka, the state capital, that the command was on the trail of the suspects.

    She said no stone would be left unturned until the hoodlums were apprehended and made to face the wrath of the law.

    The command commiserated with the company and family of the deceased.

    It assured the residents of the protection of their lives and property.

    The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Boromeo Hospital.

     

  • Police recover six cars from ‘robbers’

    Police recover six cars from ‘robbers’

    Ten suspected armed robbers that have been terrorising residents of Ayobo-Ipaja, Lagos have been arrested by men of the Rapid Response Squad.

    Six of the cars they stole were recovered in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    Parading the suspects along 24 others, Acting Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal said the suspects broke into their victims’ houses at night, packed their belongings inside their cars and drove away.

    The suspects are Abomi James, 34, Omokaro Efe, 48, Joseph Uzuazomaro, 31, Chukwudi Onyemara, 27, Melvin Umeh, 33, Nisma Uttah, 33, Samuel Shokunbi, 34, Ahmed Waheed, 37, Augustine Uchenna, 47 and Udoh Benedict, 39.

    Edgal reiterated his command’s preparedness to combat crime in the state.

    He warned car robbers that police were ready to track and locate the vehicles and return them to their owners.

    The vehicles recovered are Totoya Camry marked FKJ 715 ES, Toyota Camry – FGG 636 MC, Toyota Matrix -EPE 429 DJ, Mercedes Benz 4matic – KRD 68 ES, Acura MDX – EKY 534 BS and Toyota Camry – LSR 742 EW.

    The suspects, he said, would be charge to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    Leader of the gang, Uttah said his members live in Ajegunle but operates in Ayobo and Ipaja.

    For every operation, he said he would survey the area and target buildings before visiting the residents at night.

    On their mode of operation, Uttah said the gang would enter into building by scaling  fence or break part of the wall. He added that after operation, they leave early in the morning when people were on their way to work.

    He said they sell stolen cars to a buyer who would take them to Onitsha the following day after getting new number plates for them.

    Also recovered from the gang are one locally made pistol, four cartridges, five LG flat screen TV, six wrist watches, deck woofer, three pairs of shoes, a black suit, among others.

     

  • Many injured as robbers attack Ibadan community

    Scores of residents of Tella Estate in Akobo area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were injured on Saturday when a seven-man gang of armed robbers invaded the area and carted away their valuables.

    It was gathered that the robbers arrived the estate around midnight and carried out house-to-house attacks on the residents.

    When our correspondent arrived the community around 7 a.m on Saturday, bullet cartridges littered the ground while a night guard, identified simply as Victor, sustained machete cuts on the head.

    Other injured residents were said to have been taken to the hospital.

    The Chairman of the landlords association, Mr. Basiru Shodeyinde, told reporters that the robbers arrived the area at 12 a.m, adding that the landlords had reported the incident at Akobo Police Station.

    According to him, the valuables the robbers stole included laptops, undisclosed cash, mobile phones and iPad.

    He said: “From available information I have, the robbers had been in the community since midnight. I was not aware until around 2 a.m when a fellow landlord called me about it. I called other landlords to inform them about the incident. It was then we were aware they had entered seven houses.

    “They carted away mobile phones, laptops, iPad and other valuables. They collected huge sums of money from the victims.

    “We reported the incident to Akobo Police Station around 10 a.m on Saturday and we were given a police officer to inspect the damages they did to our people.

    “Though we couldn’t get the police at that time, but we have been given numbers to dial in case we have a similar experience again.”

    A victim, who did not want to be named, told our reporter that the seven robbers were huge men without masks. He said they arrived his house at 12.15 a.m and operated for 45 minutes.

    He said: “They had almost removed the window when my wife woke up. She told them not to disturb themselves, that she would open the door for them. That was because they had destroyed the window beyond expected. She opened the door for them and we dropped all the money we had on the table so that they would not begin to threaten to kill us. When they told me to bring more money or they will kill me, I said there was no more money. They attempted to shoot me. That was when my wife dragged it with them and she was hit with the gun butt. Thank God, my wife has been responding to treatment at hospital.”

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said he was going to get back to our correspondent as soon as he was able to get information on the incident.

    But he did not reply last night.

  • Robbers raid Bayelsa homes for flatscreen TVs

    Flat screen television sets are major targets of robbers, who constantly burgle homes in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    Investigations showed most residents of the capital city sleep with their eyes open following activities of night marauders, who break into homes to steal valuables, especially plasma flatscreen TVs.

    A resident in Yenagoa, Theo, described the development as worrisome and appealed to the police to burst the syndicate involved in the crime.

    Theo said the robbers found TVs attractive because they had a willing market.

    He asked the police to apply intelligence to know the buyers of the stolen flatscreen TVs and stop the theft, adding that  two of his neighbours at the PDP and Barath areas of Yenimi-Zuegene were victims of TV thieves last week.

    “The police in Yenagoa must do something about the high level of robbery by thieves, who target homes with plasma TVs. The high cost of the plasma and its small weight have made them attractive.

    “They should at least apply intelligence to know who their buyers are in order to end this villainous crime.

    “Sometimes, I am tempted to suspect the complicity of some bad eggs in the force. The complacency is worrying. Till today, the police have not been able to tackle car battery theft.

    “The scenario is even more complicated with this plasma TV robbery”.

    Also, Celestine Ogona, who lives in Agudiama, said she was a victim of robbery operation in her house, adding that they made away with her television set and other valuables.

    She said: “I am also a victim. As a matter of fact, the robbers raided all four flats in the building and made away with valuables. They took all plasma TVs, no matter how small”.

    Also another resident, Akam, said in a week, bars and shops were raided by hoodlums, who stole about seven flatscreen television sets.

    He said: “I even wonder how these guys would carry the large numbers of fat screen TVs and the police would not catch them. I believe flatscreen TVs is now a lucrative business for the thieves and that is why they go after them.”

  • Police arrest 31 kidnappers, cultists, robbers

    Thirty-one suspected kidnappers, cultists and robbers have been arrested by the police in Bayelsa State, following raids on criminals’ hideouts and creeks.

    Arms, ammunition and stolen items, including nine locally-made pistols, were recovered from the hoodlums after three weeks operation.

    Among the suspects was 26-year-old Temikiri Moni held for the abduction of an accountant’s wife, Joy Epidi, on July 24, on Imiringi Road, Yenagoa.

    Parading the suspects in Yenagoa, Police Commissioner Mr. Amba Asuquo said the gang, which abducted Joy, called her husband and demanded ransom.

    “Consequently, police operatives swung into action and arrested Temikri Moni, 26, about 22:45hrs in his home at Jimro Street, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

    “The suspect had earlier called Bogbara Komoko, a businessman, threatening him to part with his N5million or his family members would be kidnapped. The victim has been released unconditionally and the suspect confessed to making such calls and demands. Efforts are on to arrest his cohorts,” he said.

    Amba said the remains of Luke Inedite, 30, who was declared missing at Agura community, were recovered by the police in a pond in the area.

    He said although investigations into the circumstances that led to the killing of Luke were on, a gang of cultists arrested by the police confessed to the murder.

    The police boss said members of the gang were among the cultists terrorising a community secondary school in Azikoro Division.

    He said in an undercover operation conducted by plain-clothes policemen,  James Loveday, an undergraduate of the Federal University, Otuoke and leader of the gang, was arrested with locally-made rifle.

    Amba said: “The interesting thing about this arrest was that on interrogation, the suspect facilitated the arrest of his gang members, namely Suoyo Francis, 20, a member of Greenland Cult and Bimobere Francis, aka Big Smoke, 21.”

    He named others as Sunday Robinson,18; Emmanuel, 20; Imimotimi Wilcot, 27; Gift Koma, 23 and Endurance Paul, said to be the supplier of hard drugs, such as Indian hemp and others, to the gang.

    Amba said a Nissan Coaster bus, stolen by criminals, registered as A 06-05BY, belonging to the Ministry of Education, was recovered by the police.

    He said the bus was snatched at gunpoint with a wooden gun by Ebi-Boy Eperi in Yenagoa.

    The police commissioner said the feat was made possible by the 45 vehicles acquired by Governor Seriake Dickson for the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo-Akpo; cooperation by the public and activities of vigilance groups.

  • Robbers shoot Complete Sports contract driver

    Suspected robbers yesterday, on the Benin-Lagos highway, shot Suleiman Tajudeen, a contract driver with Complete Communications Limited, publisher of Complete Sports.

    Suleiman, 53, was shot in the head and is receiving treatment at the Central Hospital, Benin.

    Witnesses said the robbers blocked a portion of the road with wood.

    Suleiman was shot when he attempted to flee.

    The robbers dispossessed him of N48,000 and a mobile phone.

    Speaking to reporters on hospital bed, Suleiman said: “I was driving towards Benin, between Ore and Ofusu; I saw their (robbers) wooden barricade. The driver with The Guardian, Mr. Kayode, was behind me.

    “When I saw the barricade, I had to stop. As I tried to reverse, they (robbers) shot me and I fell. When I fell and the vehicle stopped, one of them said I was dead.

    “So, they dragged me out of the vehicle, searched me and stole about N48,000 and my Nokia phone, before they left me. When they left, I managed to drive down to Benin while the blood was flowing.”

  • Police foil robbers’ attack on bullion van in Ondo

    Police foil robbers’ attack on bullion van in Ondo

    Ten bandits have reportedly attacked a bullion van on Akure-Ondo Expressway at Ireje village in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Eyewitness said the robbers rode in two vehicles and opened fire on the bullion van at 1 p.m yesterday.

    The bullion van was said to belong to a new generation banks.

    It was reportedly loaded with a huge sum of money.

    Sources said the operation was not successful as the robbers were unable to break into the bullion.

    A villager, who spoke in confidence, said the hoodlums attacked the bullion van on its way to Ondo town from Akure, the state capital.

    According to her, at 1 p.m, the residents heard sporadic gunshots.

    She said after the operation, the robbers ran into the bush with some injured policemen.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police prevented the robbers from stealing the money in the bullion van.

    He said no policeman was killed in the attack but confirmed that some were injured.

  • Robbers attack bullion Van in Ondo

    Robbers attack bullion Van in Ondo

    Armed Bandits reportedly attacked a bullion van on Akure-Ondo Expressway at Ireje village in Ondo East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Eye witness said the robbers; numbering 10 were inside two vehicles when they opened fire at the bullion van at about 1pm.

    The bullion van was said to have belonged to one of the new generation commercial banks and loaded with an undisclosed huge sum of money.

    Sources however said the operation was not successful as the robbers were unable to break into the bullion van to escape with the money.

    A villager who spoke in confidence said the suspected robbers attacked the bullion van which was on its way to Ondo town from Akure, the state capital.

    According to her, at about 1pm, they just heard sporadic gunshots and everybody began to run for safety.

    She said after the operation, the robbers ran into the bush while some injured policemen also ran into the bush.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police, Femi Joseph said the robbers were not allowed to carry the money inside the bullion van away.

    He however said no policeman was killed in the attack but confirmed that some of them were injured.