We Rob Motorists, Passengers with Toy Guns, Confess Suspects
Three suspected armed robbers are now cooling their heels in police net for their alleged roles in robbing motorists and passengers with toy guns in Lagos. SATURDAY THISDAY learnt that the three suspects- Okeke Christian, Paul Igwe and Akazue Nwakonuche were using toy guns to dispossess motorists and tricycle passengers of their belongings in traffic snarls in several parts of the metropolis. It was gathered that the suspected robbers were nabbed by the operatives of Ikotun Police Division at about 9:00 pm on December 11, 2014 in Ikotun area of Lagos, shortly after an operation. They were subsequently handed over to the detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, GRA, Ikeja, for further probe.
It was further learnt that while the three suspects have been arrested by the police, a fourth member of the gang, identified simply as Nwankpa, was still at large.
In his confession with our correspondent, 26-year-old Nwakonuche from Anambra State said the gang resorted to using toy guns to threaten their victims when they could not procure real guns for their operations.
“I came to Lagos in 2010 to stay with an uncle in Ikotun, and that was where I met the gang members. Later on, my uncle travelled to India and left a small shop for me to take over and eke out a living. It was Paul (aka Igwe) who brought the idea of robbing tricycle drivers and passengers to the gang. He also brought Nwankpa to join us.
“Our mode of operation is to use toy guns to rob motorists and commercial bus passengers. All of us had toy guns and cutlasses. But on that fateful Thursday, we went to the Ikotun Roundabout and entered a tricycle with the purpose of robbing it. At a point, we pointed our operational toy guns at the driver, and he was shivering.
“But when he suspected we had toy guns, he gave out a shout, and some vigilance members got after us immediately. They gave us a hot chase and pursued us into the hands of a team of policemen on a routine patrol within the vicinity,” said the suspect.
Also, Nwakonuche, who claims to be first child of a family of eight children, added that he dropped out of secondary school as a result of financial difficulties.
In his confession too, Christian, 29, also from Anambra State, said he was selling ladies’ wear in Ikotun area, before he was introduced into the gang.
“My role during the operation is to search the commercial buses or tricycles for bags containing money, handsets and other valuables. Before I joined the gang, I used to sell ladies’ wear in Ikotun. It was Paul (Igwe) who introduced me to the gang. Now, I regret taking that decision”, he lamented.
21-year-old Igwe, who is said to be the gang leader, noted that it was true that he organised the gang, and planned their operations, adding that they sold every tricycle they snatched for at least N150, 000.
“My alias is ‘wiper’. I am their gang leader. I brought the idea of robbing motorists, passengers and snatching tricycles. I met my gang members at our hemp smoking joint. One man named Roughman is the receiver of our snatched tricycles. He bought each from for us at a value of N150, 000.”
It was further gathered that the rider of the robbed tricycle, Mr. Chukwudi Ebirim, was also beaten up by the gang and sustained wounds, before the police team could come to his rescue and arrested the suspects.
DSP Kenneth Nwosu, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that investigations had commenced into the matter.
“The suspects have been arrested, and they are in our custody. The SARS detectives have swung into action to probe the matter,” he said.