The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Delta police kill robbery suspect

    •arrest undergraduate for illegal possession of arms

    The Delta State Police Command has said that it shot dead an armed gunman after a gun duel in a botched robbery attempt at a filling station by a four-man robbery gang in Olomu community,Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

    The state police spokesperson, DSP Tina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said a combined team of police patrol team and vigilante groups from Olomu community foiled an attempt by a four-man gang.

    She said a member of the gang was killed by the police during a gun battle, while the rest escaped with gunshot wounds.

    According to DSP Kalu, “On 24/1/2016, at about 1600hrs, a combined team of police patrol team and vigilante groups from Olomu community successfully foiled an attempt by four man armed robbers gang to rob Oando petrol station, and in the process gunned down one of the robbers, while the rest escaped in their vehicle with bullet wounds.”

    Kalu also said detectives attached to Kwale Division, Ndokwa West, arrested a final year student of the Department of Business Administration, Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), with a locally-made single barrel cut-to-size gun.

    “On 27/1/2016, at about 1520hrs, detectives attached to Kwale Division, in conjunction with vigilantes, while acting on a tip off, arrested one Ode Victor ‘m’   aged 25yrs, a 5th year Business Admin student of DELSU Abraka, with a locally made single barrel gun cut to size concealed under a tricycle. His accomplices, who are also students of the same institution, escaped. Investigation is in progress.”

  • Ex-convicts held for attempted robbery

    Ex-convicts held for attempted robbery

    •’I was looking for money for my drugs’

    An ex-convict, who was rearrested last Friday by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged attempted robbery, has claimed that he was trying to raise funds for his drugs.

    Phillip Toihile, who claims to be diabetic, was arrested with Salifu Abbey, 26 and Idris Sulayman, 28, also an ex-convict, in Ijora, Lagos  around 10pm while allegedly attempting to rob a taxi driver, Fatai Amori.

    At the RRS’ headquarters at Alausa, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital,  Toihile, 24, said he went into robbery to raise N17, 000 for his drugs.

    The suspect, who was released from Kirikiri prison in July 2014, said: “This entire thing is like a temptation. With my condition, I am not expected to be found in a situation like this. I was sick. I went to health centre. They said I am diabetic and that my sugar level was 475 milligram. The doctor prescribed some drugs worth about N17, 000. I was told at the health centre to go and get the drugs and come back for further test.

    “So, I invited my friend, Abbey, and I explained to him my situation. I sought his cooperation and he agreed to assist me to raise the funds. I got the gun that we used in Yaba Railway yard. The gun was wrapped with a polythene bag by cart pushers. I picked it with two live cartridges and we mapped out our plans.”

    Toihile added: “I told Abbey to wave down a taxi cab. Our plan was for the cab to take us to a desolate place where we can rob and dispossess the driver of all his days’ earnings. We told the driver that we were going to Ijora, and that we are going to get down in two separate points. I would get down first while Abbey would alight later.

    “I sat at the back seat with Abbey in front beside the driver hiding a locally made long gun in his rain jacket. We were close to my bus stop when the driver, apparently frightened asked for the fare.

    “Abbey and I started arguing on who should pay the fare, which was part of our plan. Unfortunately, Abbey was pulling out the gun when RRS men approached the vehicle to see if everything was alright with us but he noticed Abbey was trying to hide something. They searched the vehicle and found our gun, a knife on me and two live cartridges.”

    But Abbey, a labourer, said: “Although the gun was found on me but it was giving to me by Toihile. He told me he was returning the gun to the owner in Ijora while he was on his way to his girlfriend’s house. He begged me to help him conceal the gun. Because he was looking frail and emaciated, if he had a gun on, people would spot it. Besides, what I was putting on was a jeans and overall jacket, I felt it was easier for me to hide the gun.”

    He said he felt bad about it all, adding that his wife and children would not forgive him if they found out.

    Sulayman was named by the suspects as their leader even though he was not arrested along with them.

    Sulayman, an ex-convict turned cobbler, was arrested by the police when he was trying to monitor the suspects through phone.

    “After I gained my freedom from prison about a year ago, I have turned a new leaf,” he said, adding that he was trying to know the whereabouts of Abbey, whose wife, he claimed, visited his shop when he was not seen at home.

    Amori said he took the suspects around 9:30pm in Yaba, adding: “Because they were two and are dropping at separate locations, I charged them N700 but they negotiated to pay N500 and I carried them. I sensed some strange feeling few minutes later when I requested for fare and they started arguing.

    “At this time, we were close to Ijora. I parked waiting for them to settle the issue between themselves. Suddenly, Abbey, who sat beside me in front, brought out a gun and just in the nick of time, the RRS parked beside us and sighted the gun. That was how they were arrested.”

    “I never knew they had planned to rob me, even kill me because I had no money on me. I got the vehicle on hire purchase. I am only using the vehicle to support my main business, I am a mechanic. Whenever I close from workshop, I pick up my taxi”, he said.

  • Another robbery in Ekiti 12 hours after driver’s death

    Another robbery in Ekiti 12 hours after driver’s death

    Barely 12 hours after robbers struck on the Aramoko-Igede Highway in Ekiti State, another robbery has been reported.

    The second robbery, which occurred late on Wednesday, happened at a spot not far from the place where a driver, Toyin Kajiko, was killed.

    Sources told The Nation yesterday in Ado-Ekiti that a bus conveying 14 passengers was attacked at 8pm but nobody was killed.

    The bus was said to be heading to Ado-Ekiti.

    The robberies have struck fear in the minds of residents, motorists and commuters.

    The police have arrested one person in connection with the Wednesday morning robbery.

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi told reporters yesterday that a man “who claimed to be a hunter” has been detained.

    “He is telling his interrogators all he knows about the incident.”

    Adeyemi added that the suspect was arrested at 4am yesterday within the vicinity of the scene.

    He said: “We have arrested a man in connection with the robbery. Our men arrested him around 4am.

    “The suspect claimed that he is a hunter but we wonder what kind of animals he wanted to kill at that time.”

    According to him, the command is investigating the spate of robberies in Aramoko.

    He urged the public to assist the police with information which could lead to the arrest of suspects.

  • We were forced into armed robbery – teenage cultists

    We were forced into armed robbery – teenage cultists

    Four teenagers paraded by the Lagos Police command for armed robbery on Wednesday have said they were forced into the act.

    Samuel Madeko, 19, Bright Oriaku, 19, Ibrahim Oguntoyinbo, 18 and Babajide Akiola, 16, were arrested on December 28, at the Satellite area of the state for armed robbery and cultism.

    They were said to have dispossessed a road user of his mobile phone, laptop and money during the holiday, as well as robbed one Christ Apostolic Church.

    The teenagers were arrested after residents identified some of the culprits, as their gang members.

    According to the suspects, they were forcibly initiated into the Black Axe confraternity by one Bolaji and another Awala last year.

    The suspects, who claimed they were labourers at a construction site, disclosed that the said Bolaji and Awala usually forced them into armed robbery.

    According to them, their leaders connected them with a certain Pastor Chris who needed bands and furniture to state his own ministry.

    Oriaku told The Nation that they were given the telephone number of the said Pastor Chris, adding that he was aware they were going to steal the furniture and musical instruments.

    He said: “We have gone for several robberies. We usually snatch people’s belongings around 4am on the road. But we did those things out of fear because they were always forcing us.

    “But the truth is that we were not among the group that robbed that day. We refused to follow Bolaji and Awala because we had early morning job at the site.

    “What actually happened was that, our leaders usually come to the site were we work and so, people around used to see them. So, that day that we did not follow them, we heard they robbed a man near the site and collected some things from him.

    “People who saw them and knew they usually come to our site, now pointed at us that we were the ones.

    “We have gone for many operations. We have robbed a church. And the leaders are the ones who usually sent us. The day we went to the church, there was no door and so, we carried the things and took it to them.

    “It was one Pastor Chris who said he wanted to start a ministry and that was how we were sent to steal the things. I am not happy about the life I have lived, I was afraid to report to anyone because they threatened to kill me,” he said.

    16-year-old  Akiola who claimed he was an orphan disclosed that so many children, including 10-year-olds were members of the gang.

    He claimed as a new initiate, he usually played the role of a spy for the group whenever they were going for an operation or a battle.

    Although said he has never killed anyone, Akiola admitted that he had followed the group to a battle against the Eiye confraternity were two persons were shot by Bolaji.

    “I have told the police everything I know. I did not join this group with clear eyes.  I never wanted to join them but everything they will be beating me.

    “They will seize my clothes, my shoes, money and anything I have on me. Samuel usually harassed me anytime he saw me on the road because I refused to join them.

    “It is a normal thing in that area. Even small children of 10 years are Adaba (Senior ranks). I usually seat on the floor whenever they are around.

    “I am the most junior in rank, am a Tendi. After Tendi, you have Fly, where Samuel, Bright and Ibrahim belong and after them you have Adaba.”

    Asked how he was initiated, Akiola said they blindfolded him, slapped him severally and poured dry gin into his eyes.

    “I paid for the initiation. They covered my face; took me to one corner; gave me double slaps like 30 times; trampled on me while I was on the ground and then they poured whiskey in my eyes.

    “For several days I did not get myself. After all the beating and torture they gave me, they now said I should pay N17,000 to Fly or that I should kill somebody.

    “I refused to kill anyone and I told them I do not have the money yet. They told me that the Fly initiation is worse than the Tendi and that I was be taken to a native doctor and that I will die if am not strong enough.

    “They also said they will mix rice and garri and give me to eat. So,after they told me the whole thing, I just made up my mind that I won’t do it.

    “I am not happy that my evil deeds have led me into police custody. I pray that they forgive me so that I will just go to the village and live with my grandmother.

    “My father died last year and I only met my mother last year too but she does not want me. She prefers her children from her current marriage.

    “It was after I went to her and she rejected me that I returned to Lagos and joined the cult so that the bad boys will leave me in peace,” he said.

    According to Madeko who said he was an indegene  of Cross River State, he was initiated in April last year and has followed the group for several robbery operations as well as clashes with rival cults.

    He disclosed that before joining the group, the older boys in the neighbourhood would beat him up, seize his clothes, shoes and even money.

  • Two killed, many injured in Ekiti bank robbery

    Two killed, many injured in Ekiti bank robbery

    •One gang member killed

    There was panic in Okemesi on Christmas Eve in Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State when a nine-man armed robbery gang attacked an old generation bank. Two persons were killed in the process.

    The hoodlums also carted away millions of naira and injured scores of residents in an orgy of shooting that lasted almost an hour.

    The two persons shot dead included a private security guard said to be in his late 30s. His name was given as Matthew and a carpenter, Ayo Alawode (53).

    One of the robbers was also reportedly shot dead by an unidentified member of the community, which angered the robbers who unleashed a shooting spree.

    The robbery attack soured Christmas celebrations as many residents couldn’t go to the church on Friday to mark the festival while the community was calm on yesterday.

    One of the robbers reportedly disguised on arrival as a resident and joined others at a newsstand close to the bank to observe the scene before other members of the gang arrived in a Toyota Sienna space bus.

    The gang announced their arrival with several gunshots to the air at about 5.30 pm and blew off the bank security door with explosives which made them to gain access into the baking hall.

    An eyewitness told reporters in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, that bank customers who queued up at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery were marched into the banking hall by four of the robbers while the remaining gang members stood guard outside.

    Activities at the town’s main market which were already in full swing for last-minute Christmas purchases were disrupted as buyers and sellers scampered to safety as gunshots rent the air.

    When the robbers learnt that one of them had been killed, they continued shooting anyone in sight and it was at this point that Alawode who owned a shop located outside the bank was hit in the head. He died instantly.

    The security guard was said to have died while being taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    At least ten persons who were wounded in the orgy of the shooting unleashed by the robbers have been rushed to a teaching hospital in a nearby state.

    The source said: “Immediately those in the bank hall realized that one of them had been shot, they thought it was done by a policeman and they quickly ran out.

    “When they got outside and knew that the police were yet to arrive, they immediately shot the carpenter and the security guard. This provided the opportunity for the customers held hostage to escape.

    “We made efforts to call policemen at Ijero Ekiti, but they didn’t come in time, same to soldiers at Itawure Junction. Though, they later came after the robbers had escaped through Ijero road,” he said.

    Ekiti police command spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the killing of the two persons during the robbery operation. He added that the command has launched investigation and expressed confidence that the culprits will be arrested “very soon.”

  • Vulcaniser held for ‘robbery and Indian hemp smoking’

    Vulcaniser held for ‘robbery and Indian hemp smoking’

    A vulcaniser has been arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged robbery and Indian hemp smoking.

    The suspect was caught on Saturday, when he and his accomplice, who is at large, robbed a tricyclist popularly known as “Marwa”.

    He confessed to the robbery.

    The suspect said his friend used a knife to disposses the tricyclist, Okeke Chibuike, of his two mobile phones, money and other valuables.

    According to him, his friend dropped the stolen items when he spotted RRS operatives and ran away.

    The secondary school drop-out turned vulcaniser explained that he followed his friend to Iddo.

    “I was standing trying to take a tricycle to Oyingbo when I heard the shout of thief, thief. I saw my friend dropping handsets and a jack knife, I picked them up. That was how RRS operatives arrested me.” he said.

    “I have been learning vulcanising for over six years, and I am preparing for my freedom. It was my friend that robbed. He dropped the phone and the jack knife when he was being chased. I only picked them up to defend myself.

    “Abdullah is a street sweeper in Oyingbo. I know where he lives. He is the one that put me into this problem. I only followed him to Iddo”, he added.

    Also on Saturday, another vulcaniser Sola Adetona arrested behind Bobby Benson House in Onipanu, Lagos.

    Adetona, 28, said: “I was in a joint when I was arrested. I smoke weed to stimulate myself and to make myself work better.

    “I live in Mushin and I was arrested around 5pm. I want to plead for mercy. I am not married but I have impregnated a woman”.

  • FCT police arrest six robbery suspects

    FCT police arrest six robbery suspects

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said it had arrested six robbery suspects who specialised in attacking and robbing people of cell phones and money.

    The Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Manzah said that the suspects were arrested in separate operations in Mabushi, Nyanya and Wuye divisions by operatives of the command.

    He said that the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigation

    He said that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, had directed all Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders in the territory to ensure adequate security during the Yuletide.

    The Police Spokesman called on residents of the territory to assist the police by volunteering useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminals.

    “Residents of the territory should help the police by reporting suspicious movements in their neighbourhood, “ he said.

    It would be recalled that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, had directed Command Commissioners of Police to personally ensure adequate security during the Yuletide.

  • Poverty pushed me into robbery, says suspect

    Poverty pushed me into robbery, says suspect

    A member of a three-man armed robbery gang has blamed his involvement in crime on poverty.

    The suspect, Ese Ebrorhie, also attributed his gang’s success to the use of ‘motorcycles’ for their get away from robbery scenes.

    The gang has been tormenting residents and motorists around Mile 2 and Apapa in Lagos.

    Ebrorhie was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    Two members of the gang escaped with a locally-made double barrel gun and a pistol.

    “I bought a fairly used motorcycle popularly known as okada which developed small problem and there was nobody to help me, so I joined the gang to raise funds to repair the okada,” Ebrorhie said, adding: “We operated around 5am and 6am and from 9pm. We rob only commercial buses by pretending to be passengers at bus stop around Mile 2 and Apapa.

    “Once inside the bus, the gang leader, Zubby, who is holding one of our guns, will hold the bus driver hostage while we begin to rob and dispossess every passenger of their belongings. After the operation, we disembark and mount our waiting bike moving beside the bus to escape.

    “I have gone on three operations with them. The first operation, I was given N8, 000. The second one, I was given N15,000. This is my third operation with the gang. Zubby is the one that collects and sells all the belongings we collect during operations. He is the one who shares the booty to everyone.”

    Ebrorhie said most of the victims mistook them for passengers.

    He claimed that he knew members of the gang as a car washer but didn’t know they were armed robbers then.

    “They invite me to operation whenever they wish. Sometimes, I can be in Berger for two days without seeing them,” he said.

    Police Public Relations Officer Kenneth Ofor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspect would be charged to court.

    He urged Lagosians to be security conscious during this Yuletide.

  • Police parade 63 robbery suspects in Port Harcourt

    Police parade 63 robbery suspects in Port Harcourt

    The Police in Rivers state have paraded a- two- man robbery gang who allegedly concealed their operational gun inside a loaf of bread in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state.

    The command also paraded another set of 10 criminals including two women who specialized in robbing bank customers at the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points and bank gates on gun point.

    Also paraded were 12 kidnappers and 21 cultists. The suspected were reportedly arrested in different parts of the state, between November 1 and 13. A total of 84 assorted kind of guns, 17 cartridges were recovered from the suspects while 10 were killed within the period under review.

    Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt Monday before the parade exercise, the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Musa Kimo said the command rescued a total of 12 kidnap victims and recovered 15 vehicles.

    Represented by the Spokesman of the Command, Mohammed K. Ahmed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), assured the people of the state of the Police commitment in ensuring that activities of criminals were brought to a halt in the state, especially as the festive period is around the corner and appealed for more corporation from the public.

    “We want to again address and brief you of some of the activities we are doing, in order to ensure we brought the activities of anti-social elements in Rivers state to a near halt if not totally eradicated.

    “The people we are parading today are of three categories, they are suspected armed robbers, cultists and armed robbers. They were arrested from different parts of the state.

    “A gangster of the armed robbers we arrested concealed their operational gun inside.”

     

  • Protest in LAUTECH over rape, robbery

    Protest in LAUTECH over rape, robbery

    Increase in the spate of robbery and rape in the host community of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has led to a protest by students, last Monday.

    The protesters, who were led by Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders, shut down of all entrances to the university, denying both staffs and visitors entrance into the campus. The demonstrators, who barricaded the school gate for hours, prevented the Vice–Chancellor (VC), Prof Sulaiman Gbadegesin, and other principal officers from gaining access to the school.

    For 45 minutes, top officials of the school management made effort to persuade the protesters to re-open the school gate, but the students rebuffed. Attempts by the VC to speak to the students were futile.

    Hours after, the students left the school gate to protest on the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway.

    Halls of Residence close to the campus have lately been invaded by unknown hoodlums, who robbed and sexually-abused students. Some students, who live far from the campus, were mugged on their way to their hostels.

    In the past weeks, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that more than seven students had fallen victims. The assailants, after forcing their ways into the hostels, robbed students at point gunpoint. The protesters alleged that the management showed no concern on the excuse that the incidents occurred outside the campus.

    The General Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Hamzat Jamiu, who was part of the protesters, said the situation was unacceptable, noting that the students embarked on the protest when management did not respond to their complaints.

    He said: “The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the insensitivity of the management to the plight of students. Rather than strengthening security around the off-campus hostel, the management increased the acceptance fee of the freshers.”

    The SUG Welfare Director, Ridwan Okedara, said the solution to the problem was for the school to provide hostels on campus.

    The management could not be reached for comment.