The Nation Newspaper

Tag: robbery

  • Suspect remanded for alleged robbery

    Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of 31-year-old Yusuf Lawan, for alleged robbery.

    The suspect and others at large allegedly robbed Chief Seleipiri Bob-Manuel of his belongings valued at N810,000 while armed with machetes and knives.

    A document obtained from the court alleged that the suspect and his accomplices dispossessed their victim of his 42″ plasma LG television valued at N350,000, Samsung S+8 phone valued at N250,000, Samsung S+6 phone valued at N200,000 and a DSTV decoder valued at  N10,000.

    The two-count charge of robbery brought against him was not read to him; the court apparently lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter, which, according to the criminal code, falls within the capital offence charge, hence he did not take plea.

    The offence was allegedly committed on March 5, at Woji community in Obio/Akpor Local Government.

    Chief Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody and his case file forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    Jaja adjourned till April 22 for report of the DPP advice.

  • We cut off victims’ fingers, wrists during robbery, says suspect 

    A suspected robber, Kunle Akerele, alias Poly, has said his gang usually cut off victims’ fingers and wrists to force them to submitting their belongings.

    Akerele and other members of his gang- Toyin Adewale, Nurudeen Akorede (Sypon), Oluwaseyu Makinde, Tunde Yusuf (To Door) and Bankole Mohammed, alias Hunter, were arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), at Ikotun, Lagos.

    The suspects, who were paraded by Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu, told reporters that they cut the fingers and wrists of over 20 victims in one operation for lying to them.

    Admitting that he was the leader of the gang, Akerele said they adopted the strategy after they discovered that most of their victims usually gave them inferior phones each time they raided houses.

    He said: “We operated at Agege, Aboru and Iyana Ipaja areas of Lagos State. We attacked homes. When we started, we were not cutting off victims’ fingers or wrists. The people made us to become wicked because each time they knew we were coming, they would surrender small phones. They would tell us they didn’t have money.

    “One day, one of my boys suggested we get cutlass and teach the people a lesson. We tried it and it worked. Our first victim was a rich man, who had many expensive cars in his house.

    “When we got in, we asked for his phone and he gave us a small Nokia phone. We saw his gold wedding ring and told him to remove it, but he pretended as if it was difficult to remove it. So, we cut off his three fingers. The moment his wife saw what happened, she did not waste time in removing hers.

    “The incident occurred on January 13 at Aboru. We needed money when we carried out the raid. All the victims were giving us small phones. After we left the man’s house, we went back and dealt with all those who lied to us by giving us small phones. Over 20 people’s wrists and fingers were cut that day.

    “We did it for future purpose, so that the news will spread and the people will be forced to bring out money when next we strike.”

    Asked how the gang got firearms, Akerele said they collected weapons from Tunde (Yusuf), who got them from a vigilance group member.

    “We ‘settled’ Tunde (gave him money) after each operation. We don’t know his arrangement with the vigilante. Initially, we thought the guns were expensive, but later we heard he bought them for N20,000 each.”

    The police said over 85 phones and 33 laptops were recovered from the buyer of the items the gang stole, adding that the receiver led officers to where the suspects hid.

    “Over 85 phones and 33 laptops were recovered from the buyer of the stolen items. My men are after two members of the gang, who are on the run. The case will be charged to court at the end of investigation,” Muazu said.

     

  • Teenager charged with robbery

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded an 18-year-old motorcyclist, Sodiq Adedeji, in prison for allegedly robbing a man of his motorcycle, valued at N250,000, with a knife.

    Chief Magistrate Mr. A. A. Fashola remanded Adedeji in Kirikiri Prison and ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

    Adedeji, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge bordering on robbery, but his plea was not taken.

    Read also: Court frees director, brother on charges of non-declaration of assets

    Prosecuting Sergeant Michael Unah said the defendant committed the offences with others at large on December 28 last year at about 5:01am at Oniwaya junction, Agege, Lagos.

    He alleged that the defendant armed himself with a knife and other dangerous weapons and robbed the complainant, Mr. Lanre Soremi, of his motorcycle.

    Unah said the complainant shouted and the defendant was apprehended by passers-by.

    He said the offences contravened sections 296 and 299 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

    The case continues on March 10.

     

     

  • 18-year-old, others remanded for alleged cultism, robbery

    A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the remand in prison custody of an 18-year-old girl, Gift Emmanuel, for alleged cultism and robbery.

    Remanded with her are Saviour Augustine, 22, Nnana Peter, 19, Friday Daniel, 20, Precious Ubani, 18, and Kwame Atisa, 18.

    The suspects are alleged to have belonged to and participated in the activities of a cult called ‘Degbam’.

    They allegedly terrorised residents of Ojoto, Nanka and Iloabuchi streets, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt.

    The suspects are also accused of robbing the inhabitants of their phones while armed with pistols.

    A document obtained from the court alleged that the suspects had in their possession one revolver pistol with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

    Read also: Farmer, timber seller steal car

    The six-count charge of robbery, unlawful possession of arms and cult involvement and participation was not read to them, hence they did not take any plea.

    They reportedly carried out the alleged crimes at Anozie waterside and Eagle Island, Port Harcourt on January 9.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja said the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and ordered the parties to file written addresses on whether the court could grant bail to the suspects or not.

    He ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter till February 21 for adoption of written addresses.

  • Court remands two brothers for alleged robbery

    An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court in Kwara State yesterday remanded two brothers, Abubakar Ibrahim and Abubakar Sahabe, in prison custody for alleged robbery.

    Prosecuting Inspector Adewumi Johnson said the duo were standing trial before Magistrate Adebola Abioye on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and armed robbery.

    He said the defendants of no fixed addresses were arrested by the police on January 14 during a stop and search along Okolowo highway, Ilorin.

    Johnson said immediately the police stopped them, one of the persons on the motorcycle took to his heels, while the two brothers were nabbed.

    He said the first accused person attempted to disarm one of the security men of his rifle, which led to the bullet injury he sustained.

    The prosecutor said when they were searched, N180, 000 cash, cutlass, knife, 10 phones, materials, a pair of shoe and a bag were found in their possession.

    He said during police investigation, the defendants were discovered to be hoodlums, who robbed people on the highway.

    Read also: Alfa to Saraki: obey court order

    Johnson, however, prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending the completion of the investigation.

    The magistrate did not take the defendants’ plea.

    Abioye, thereafter, ordered the remand of the defendants at Okekura Prison Yard, Ilorin until the adjourned date, February 20.

  • ‘My parents forced me into robbery’

    An 18-year-old arrested for alleged murder of a commercial motorcyclist in Ifitedunu, Anambra State, Chimezie Aronu, has said he was forced into robbery following his parents’ inability to pay his school fees.

    Aronu, who was one of the 13 suspects between the ages of 18 and 24, paraded yesterday by the police at the command headquarters, claimed to have accidentally shot the deceased, who attempted to stop them.

    He said his gang had robbed a woman of her phone and were escaping on a motorcycle when the deceased, Ifeanyi Nwanga, attempted to block them.

    “I dropped out of SS2 when my parents could no longer pay my school fees. I had to join a gang of robbers after learning how to barb.

    Read also: Court sacks Ondo lawmaker as PDP candidate

    “I mistakenly pulled the trigger and shot the man. I did not even know he would die from the gunshot wound,” Aronu said.

    He said they were later caught by the residents of Umunnachi community, who handed them over to the police.

    Police Commissioner Garba Umar listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects to include one locally-made pistol, five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and eight live cartridges.

    “Other items are one cut to size single barrel gun, one Barreta pistol with six rounds of live ammunition of 9mm fabricated pistol as well as a Lexus sport utility vehicle with number plate ENU 779 NX,” he said.

    Umar said the suspects were assisting the police with information that would help in arresting their accomplices, adding that they would be arraigned after investigation.

  • Police arrest six for alleged robbery

    The Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested six suspects for allegedly dispossessing motorists of valuables at gunpoint.

    The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Imohimi Edgal, confirmed the arrest to newsmen at the State’s Police Command Headquarters, stressing that the suspects were arrested on Jan. 2.

    ‘‘On Jan. 2, information was received from a reliable source that some hoodlums, armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, were dispossessing motorists of their valuables around Ajegunle area of Alakuko, Lagos.

    ‘‘On receipt of the information, operatives from Alakuko Police Station mobilised to the scene.

    ‘‘However, on sighting the policemen, the armed robbers ran in different directions to avoid being arrested but were chased, leading to the arrest of one, who led to the arrest of others.

    ‘‘Exhibits recovered from them include cutlasses and daggers.

    Read Also: Man in court over alleged diesel theft

    ‘‘Suspects have confessed committing the crime and will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

    In a similar situation, a 38-year-old man was caught in Ejigbo area of the state robbing motorists.

    The suspect was immediately searched and a cut-to-size locally made gun with two cartridges was recovered from him.

    The CP said suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigation.

  • Two remanded for alleged robbery

    Two men, who allegedly robbed a man of his Apple watch worth N240,000 and N60,000 cash, have been remanded in Kirikiri Prison by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

    Magistrate M. I. Dan-Oni sent them to Kirikiri, pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The accused -Michael Archibong, 22, and Kelechi Uba, 30 – are being tried for conspiracy and robbery.

    Prosecutor Victor Eruada said the duo committed the offence on October 26 at Ilaoregun Street, Ijegun, Satellite Town, Lagos.

    He alleged that the accused, armed with a gun-like carved wood in form of a gun and other weapons, robbed the complainant, Mr. Samson Mohammed, of his Apple watch valued at N240,000 and N40,000 cash.

    “Mohammed was going to deliver the watch to a customer when he was attacked.”

  • Two ex-convicts arrested for ‘robbery’

    The Zone II Police Command said it has arrested two robbery suspects through its Zonal Intervention Squad operatives.

    Oseni Usman, 34, and Taiwo Orogbemi, 46,  both ex-convicts, were on Monday arrested around 9:30am.

    Spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said in a statement that the operatives, while on visibility policing around Ogere Remo in Ogun State, intercepted a brown Toyota Sienna bus with two occupants.

    “On flagging down the vehicle, the suspects attempted to escape, but the policemen arrested them due to their alertness. When the vehicle was searched, a locally-made cut to size gun with three live cartridges was recovered,” she said.

    The suspects, Badmus said, were moved to the police base for investigation.

    “Upon interrogation, the two suspects confessed to have robbed residents of Akobo, Ibadan in Oyo State where they stole goods worth N2 million. They said their loot such as phones, laptops and other items had been sold, while the bus was being taken to Lagos for a buyer,” she said.

    Badmus said the suspects confessed to have formed the gang while serving jail terms in Agodi Prisons, Ibadan.

    She said the operational strategy the command put in place for the Yuletide paid off, adding that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Lawal Shehu, has directed the operatives to arrest other criminals.

     

  • Police kill two kidnap, robbery, cattle rustling suspects

    Sokoto State Police Command has killed two notorious kidnap, cattle rustling and robbery suspects, including a ward head of Gidan Bunu village in Rabah Local Government.

    Nineteen suspects, including a woman, were arrested in villages across Goronyo, Rabah and Illela local governments.

    Items recovered from the suspects include 251 sheep, 69 cows, 29 camels, 98 blankets and seven wrappers.

    The deceased ward head, Alhaji Adduwa, was the group’s armourer, who engaged the police in a shootout and got killed while attempting to escape.

    The other deceased suspect, Aliyu Abdullahi, who also attempted to escape at Gawon Fulani village in Rabah Council, died in hospital.

    Briefing reporters yesterday in Sokoto, spokesperson for the command, DSP Cordelia Nwawe, while parading the suspects, said the deceased ward head died in hospital while receiving treatment from gunshot injuries he sustained during the gun battle with the police tactical operations team.

    “Abdullahi was arrested at Gawon Fulani village in possession of AK47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition and extra magazine. He was nabbed while attempting to escape and eventually died,” she said.

    Nwawe also confirmed the arrest of a gunrunner, Lawali Aliyu, at Araba village in Illela Local Government.

    The suspect, she said, was nabbed in possession of AK47 rifle while trying to smuggle it to Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states for distribution to members of his gang.

    “He confessed receiving the arms from one Dankani, aka America, to deliver to Ramatu Muhammad of Tursa village in Rabah Local Government. He gets his stock from Ibrahim Galmi in Niger Republic and has been involved in a number of kidnapping and robbery operations.

    “Ramatu is an elderly woman, who is the custodian of the arms used by the gang.”

    Nwawe said Madugu Haruna was arrested for being in charge of transportation by giving out his bike to the late Adduwa to move with the products.

    She said the command remained resolute and combat ready against criminals, adding: “We will continue to make Sokoto difficult for criminals to find comfort for their operations.”