The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Police arrest nine robbery suspects in Lagos

    The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday said it had arrested nine armed robbery suspects around the metropolis, recovering two locally made double barrel pistols, charms and two Honda motorcycles.

    A statement by the command’s spokesman, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said policemen attached to Ikeja Division, acting on information arrested three male suspects in their operational vehicle.

    “The policemen had on Sunday at about 1 a.m. stopped a Mazda 323 car with registration number FKJ-21-DA along Opebi Road in Ikeja and recovered two locally made double barrel pistols.

    “The case is under investigation at the Department of Criminal Investigation in Yaba, Lagos,’’ the statement said.

    In the same vein, some robbery suspects were also arrested on Tuesday at about 1 a.m. by the police anti-robbery team attached to Ogombo Division.

    According to the statement, the police anti-robbery team arrested some suspected robbers at Okun Aja.

    “The five suspects included the gang leader. Items recovered from the hoodlums are charms and two Honda motorcycles.

    “The case is under investigation at Ogombo division,’’ the statement said.

  • ‘Actress’ husband held for ‘robbery’

    ‘Actress’ husband held for ‘robbery’

    THE husband of an actress arrested for alleged armed robbery has said that the bad company he kept led him into the world of crime.

    Daniel Ekwerekwu, 43, a spare parts’ dealer, said he was lured into robbery by a friend whose name he simply gave as Segun.

    Explaining his role in the robbery that led to his arrest, Ekwerekwu said: “I am a motor spares’ dealer. I was serving my master who sells shoes at Ochanja Market in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State. He gave me N2,500 as entitlement after serving him for four years. Later, I left Onitsha with my brother, Ifeanyi Onuekwe, an importer.

    “My father died of stroke. He had 22 children but death reduced us to six – four girls and two boys. I left for Lagos in 1992 to do motor spares business at Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. My business grew. That year, I gave somebody N2.2 million to buy motorcycles, but he disappeared till date with my money. It affected my business. To survive, I travelled to Cotonou where I stayed till 2014 when I returned, helping Nigerians who came to Cotonou to buy second-hand clothing. Before his death, one Emeka collected N950,000 from me for business with an understanding that we would share the gains arising from it.”

    At Emeka’s wake-keep at Ejigbo in Lagos, he said he met Segun who claimed to be into auto spares business. He added: “Segun later asked me to come to Oshodi, where he sold to me, two brain boxes at N20,000 each and one pressing buttons. I sold the boxes for N35,000 to one Israel, who asked me to come in the morning the next day for another deal. But when I got there, OPC (Oodua People’s Congress) people held me. As they were beating me, some policemen rescued me. I was later transferred to SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) for investigation.”

    Ekwereku told the police that a gang that vandalised vehicles used to sell spare parts to him. He said he later joined the gang to double his profit.

    Ekwerekwu denied ever using a gun, saying: “I am not into full-time armed robbery and car vandalism. I just started it to make more money.”

    The Lagos Police Command’s spokesman, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the fleeing members of the gang would be arrested.

     

  • Police kill robbery suspect in Enugu

    Police kill robbery suspect in Enugu

    The police in Enugu yesterday gunned down a suspected robbery gang leader.

    The police, in a statement, said the suspect was the head of a gang that specialised in snatching cars at gun point.

    Their area of operation is the Ikirike axis of Enugu South Local Government Area and its environs.

    Police spokesperson Ebere Amaraizu said the robbers met their end following a distress call from the owner of a car that was snatched by the hoodlums.

    The car, a black Nissan Xterra jeep, with registration number GG 620 AG, was snatched along Mount Close, Ikirike.

    Police at the Ogui Division, who intercepted the message, trailed and sighted the snatched car on One Day Road, Ikirike along Agbani Road.

    A gun fire ensued and the car snatchers were overpowered, leaving one of them dead.

    Amaraizu said the dead man is believed to be the gang leader.

  • Two robbery suspects die on Third Mainland Bridge

    There was confusion on the Third Mainland Bridge yesterday afternoon after two men alleged to be motorcycle robbers died in an accident.

    The victims, who were said to be riding against traffic, rammed into a wine Toyota Sienna belonging to a policeman.

    They were alleged to be members of an eight-man gang that robbed motorists at the Adekunle end of the Bridge.

    Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred at 1:30pm.

    It was learnt that the suspects had operated on four motorcycles with which they barricaded the Adekunle end of the bridge, inward Lagos Island for almost an hour.

    But when the suspects tried to stop the Sienna, the driver sped off. The hoodlums  pursued him.

    Unfortunately, the hoodlums got crushed by the driver just as they were about to catch up with him.

    The driver, it was learnt, crushed the first motorcycle carrying two of the hoodlums, who died instantly.

    A big pair of scissors was reportedly found on them.

    Security operatives, comprising Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), police and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency ( LASTMA), evacuated the bodies to Mainland General Hospital Mortuary.

     The motorist was said to have been taken to a nearby hospital for check-up. His vehicle was moved to the Adekunle Police Station.

    But the police said there was nothing to indicate the deceased were robbers.

    Police spokesman Kenneth Nwosu said no weapon was found on them.

    He said: “It was a fatal accident. Two guys on motorcycle were driving against traffic.

    “It was not a police vehicle. It was a bus belonging to a police man. The victims died on the spot.

    “It is not confirmed if they were armed robbers. Nothing was found on them to suggest they were robbers,” said Nwosu.

  • Drugs led me to robbery, says suspect

    Drugs led me to robbery, says suspect

    A 50-year-old man, Tokunbo Ojo, has said his love for cocaine and Indian hemp led him to armed robbery.

    According to police, Ojo was arrested on April 6 for using a master key to open the door of a parked car on Yaya Abatan Street in Ogba, Lagos, carting away laptops, expensive phones, wrist watch and money.

    He said: “I used to take drugs like cocaine but I usually mix it with N20 marijuana as cocaine is N100 a wrap and I take it five times a day. I have operated three times. One was at Agege, the second at Iyana-Ipaja and the third is at Abule-Egba. It was this fourth one at Ogba that I was arrested and transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Lagos State Police Command.

    “I have not achieved anything. Drug only damages my life and did not give me chance to take care of my children and wife. I am sorry for myself. It is drug that pushed me to stealing. My wife is even tired of persuading me to stop taking drug.

    Fortunately my being detained in SARS cell has helped me to stop taking drug. My 15 days in detention has removed all the cocaine in my body. I will not take cocaine again. My detention in SARS is a blessing in disguise.”

    The father of two said he was a one-man squad.

    “People suspected me of stealing laptops, money, phones, wrist watches from parked vehicles and I was arrested while trying to do it again at Ogba 15 days ago. I am a one-man squad because it is risky to allow somebody to join because his mistake can bring about your arrest. I collected only two laptops. I just started,” he said.

    Ojo said he regretted his action, adding: “My wife is a motor agent; she buys motor for people and company that requested for vehicles and she does it on contract basis as she is after commission.”

  • Herbalist, accomplice held for ‘robbery’

    Herbalist, accomplice held for ‘robbery’

    A 22-year-old man, who allegedly prepares charms for smugglers, robbers and fraudsters, among others, has been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos.

    Jimoh Akeem (a.k.a Bulletproof) was arrested along with a member of his three-man gang, Akinroko Ogunshina (32). The third member, Sunday David, is at large.

    Jimoh, it was learnt swindles his clients by lying to them that he could give them bulletproof charms for which he charges them between N50,000 and N100,000.

    Besides, the victim would also provide live goats, bags of rice, cartons of beer, crates of mineral, kegs of palm wine and kola nuts, for preparation of the charms.

    According to a source, there is a great ceremony on the day Akeem prepares the charm amid drinking, eating and dancing. The client wears the charm and as he is dancing, Akeem would fire a gun loaded with only gun powder without pellets at him. The client, it was learnt, would believe that the charm prevented the bullet from penetrating him.

    The client is expected to renew the charm with N25,000 cash and a goat. Akeem, Ogunshina and David work together to hoodwink the client.

    Akeem is said to have duped many by claiming to cure all illnesses including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, epilepsy, barrenness and impotence.

    A source said it is Ogunshina’s duty to locate where the gang can operate at night and collect handsets, laptops, gold chains, money and other valuables; David leads every operation armed with locally made short guns.

    SARS got Ogunshina in his Osogbo, Osun State hideout.

    He led the police to Akeem’s house.

    Akeem said: “I am married with two children. I built a bungalow at Iwo, Osun State with the money I got from making fake bulletproof charms for my victims. I fire them with gun that contains only gun powder without pellets. I also cure all diseases to get enough money. I have a harmless snake. I met Ogunshina when I came back from prison. I have two state-of-the-art cars – Murano and KIA Ultima. I also double dollars for traders and smugglers, but they were fake dollars. I bought the Murano Jeep for N730,000 in 2014 and KIA car for N180,000 from Mangoro area of Lagos. The owner said his enemies put salt in the engine of the KIA motor and sold it to me.”

    Ogunshina said: “I am from Ilobu in Osun State. I live in the Poultry area of Ikorodu. I am a tractor/forklift mechanic. I worked with Supering Engineering Company from 1998 to 2000 as casual worker. I was paid between N700 and N800 daily with N100 overtime. I left the company because the owners are Chinese people. They made workers to work like donkeys and no provision for industrial accident insurance, even if machine cuts one’s hand or head, no compensation.”

    The command’s spokesperson, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said efforts were on to arrest David.

     

  • Police arraign man for robbery

    A 23-year-old man,Damilare Oshikoye, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court for alleged robbery.

    Oshikoye was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Mrs A.O Komolafe on a two-count charge  bordering on conspiracy and robbery.

    The prosecutor, Eranus Ibekwe Nnamonu,  an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),  told the court that the defendant and others at large, conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit; robbery and thereby, committed an offence, adding that the offence was committed on February 28, at field Powerline, Odogunyan,  Ikorudu Lagos State.

    According to him, the defendant and others at large on the same day robbed Chinyere Nwanko of one Blackberry Touch 2 valued N17,000, a Nokia Asha phone valued N13,000, a woman handbag valued N3,000 and also cash sum of N110,000 totalling N143,000.

    The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed are contrary to and punishable under Sections 409 and 295 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

    Chief Magistrate Komolafe granted him a N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and who must be a blood relation.

    The sureties must also have evidence of tax payment within the last three year, swore to an affidavit of means and also verification of sureties addresses.

    She adjourned the case till April 30, 2015.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Police arraigns 27-year-old for alleged rape, robbery

    A 27- year -old man, Suleiman Balogun has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate court for armed robbery and rape.

    The Police last Thursday arraigned Balogun before  Chief Magistrate Miss A.O. Akinde at an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court.

    He is facing  a three -count charge of armed robbery and rape.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Nwadioke told the court that the defendant with others now at large conspired to commit felony to wit “armed robbery and thereby committed an offence.

    He said the offence was committed on November 30, 2014 at a female hostel, Ije Ododo, Alimosho Local Government, Lagos.

    Inspector Nwadioke alleged that the defendant and others at large, while armed with guns, axes and other dangerous weapons robbed one Janet (surname withheld) of one Nokia handset valued N6,000; N5,350 cash, totalling N11, 350.

    The prosector further alleged that the defendants also raped their victim, Janet on same day.

    He said the offences committed are contrary and punishable under Section 1(2)(a)and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. 398, Vol. XXII, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 as amended and Section 258(1) Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The court did not take the plea of the defendant.

    Chief Magistrate Akinde adjourned the matter to March 31, 2015 and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.

     

     

  • Two boys, three others held as navy smashes robbery gang

    Two boys, three others held as navy smashes robbery gang

    A gang that specialised in recruiting children to burgle homes in Kirikiri-Ojo, Lagos has been smashed by the Navy.

    Five members were arrested and handed over to the police.

    According to the Commander NNS WEY, Commodore Ignatius Ilaiya, they were arrested after two of the teenagers sent to break into people’s homes were intercepted by Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) WEY personnel at Navy Town, Ojo.

    The teenagers, aged13 and 15, told The Nation that they have been stealing for the group since last year.

    The duo said they were intimidated and beaten by the older members to start stealing.

    Others nabbed are Afeez Lamidi, 29; Abdulsalam Garba, 29 and Ibrahim Idris, 27.

    Three others are said to be at large.

    The teenagers confessed to have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000,  N7, 000 and N5, 000 from the barracks and a motorcycle and a television set which they handed over to the others, who usually gave them N1, 000 after each operation.

    The 13-year-old said they used razor blades to cut mosquito nets on doors and windows to gain entry.

    He said: “We are four children in my family and I am from Edo State. My mother sells recharge card. These brothers (pointing at the other suspects) were the ones who forced me to start stealing.

    “Everytime they would come to our house and they would be beating me. They said they will injure me if I refused to steal and that if I tell anybody they will deal with me.

    “That is how they used to beat us and they would take us to waterside and be teaching us how to enter someone’s house and steal.

    “I have been stealing since last December.  I have stolen N50,000, N40,000, N12,000, N7,000 and N5000. We give everything we stole to them and they will give us N1000 each.

    “I usually jump fence around 6pm to check if people are around.  I was coming to meet my second (the 15-year-old) who was already inside before I was arrested that day. It is my second who usually uses blade to tear nets and we enter the house.

    “My parents do not know that I steal. I used to leave when my mother gives me money to go and buy food and I will go home late and tell them I was in my friend’s house. They do not complain whenever I go home late and I did not tell anyone that I was being forced to steal because they said they will deal with me.”

    His second said he started stealing last December 31, after “several beatings from the adults.”

    “Papa Afeez usually takes us to waterside and teach us how to steal. Initially when we refused, they would come to our house and be beating us. He warned us not to tell anyone. We have stolen money many times and also television and motorcycle.

    “I use blades to cut nets to enter people’s houses. Most times too, when we discover some people did not lock their doors, we enter their houses and steal. I do not like stealing but had to do it out of fear. They usually wait for us at the back of the fence while we go inside and steal. After stealing, we meet them at the back of the fence, give them everything and they will give us N1000 each,” he said.

    Ilaiya said the children were arrested when a Naval patrol team within the barracks suspected their movements and called them for questioning.

    He said people had been complaining about their homes being burgled, prompting the base to take measures to avert a recurrence.

    “The suspects confessed they were in the barracks to do reconnaissance so that when they return in the night to execute their plan. Through interrogation, it was discovered that they are members of a syndicate at Kirikiri. From their confessions, three others including the man who buys stolen items from them were arrested, while a certain Tonton and one Blast are currently on the run. Also the elder brother of one of the suspects, who they also claimed is a member was said to be in Badagry.  Efforts are being made to also investigate and arrest him,” Ilaiya said.

     

  • Three held for alleged robbery

    Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Square (SARS) has arrested three persons for allegedly robbing a driver at gun point.

    They are: Aliu Abubakar, 22, Anas Mohammed, 20 and Aliu Adamu, 30.

    SARS said they allegedly robbed a driver conveying orange fruit juice at 5am around Cassidi Bus stop at Okokomaiko in Lagos, last month. They pointed a gun and machete at the driver and the conductor, robbed them of their phones and N27, 000 cash.

    The driver identified one of the suspects when he and the owner of the goods were invited by the police after arresting the gang.

    Abubakar said he never used a gun to rob due to his burnt fingers.

    He said: “See my hands, I cannot trigger a gun but I can use machete. It was when my parents couldn’t take care of me that I took to robbery. To feed myself, I did scrap picking. One kilo of scrap is sold for N750. I spend N500 to buy it with N250 gain daily. We have operated over 10 times. We are five in the group but only three of us were arrested. I had once been remanded for stealing at Kirikiri Medium Prison where I spent three months. We steal phones and hand bags in traffic jams or during rush hours. Our leader is Shibushele and he is the one in charge of the gun while others use machete.”

    Mohammed said he was arrested at his Okokomaiko residence.

    “I am a butcher. I sell meat at Odo-eran market in Ojo Army Cantonment, Mammy Market in Lagos. I used to get N700 daily. I participated in the last robbery but I was given a token of N8, 000,” he said.

    Adamu also a butcher denied being a member of the gang.

    “I only bought mobile phones from Aliu because he sold them at cheaper rates. I knew him as a scrap person. I knew that they were robbers but I never followed them to rob,” he said.