The
police in Lagos have arrested five suspected members of a robbery gang which
unleashed terror on residents of Ijanikin area on Sunday, May 24.
One of the robbery suspects, 25-year-old Ajayi
Solomon, told PUNCH Metro that he went into armed robbery because his
parents were late and he needed to take care of his siblings.
Apart from Solomon, the other suspects arrested
are Momodu Williams, 19, Kazeem Ganiyu, 19, Seun Ariyo, 20, and Elijah Dada,19.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the gang, which
is said to have about 40 members, allegedly robbed residents and commuters in
Ketu, Iyana Era, Alasia, Morogbo areas and environs.
Our correspondent gathered that on the night of
the fateful Sunday, the gang stormed Palace Road and Amosugboro streets in the
Ijanikin area, and carted away money and valuables.
The Anti-Robbery Squad from the Ijanikin Police
Division, which received a distress call, was said to have attacked the gang
and apprehended five of them.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Solomon, who
hails from Oto-Awori, Badagry, said the gang had planned the robbery while they
drank and smoked at the Egun festival. He added that he had five
siblings which he took care of with the proceeds of robbery.
He said, “It was at the Egun festival in
the Oto Awori area that we planned the operation. We drank and smoke hemp
during the festival. At about 8pm, we left for the Ijanikin area. We were about
40 persons. We robbed till dawn.
“Some of the gang members entered shops,
restaurants, and stores to loot property. But in the process, I was arrested by
the police. It was about three weeks ago that I returned from prison. I started
robbery two years ago.
“I had no option because my parents are late and
I am the first child. In 2010, I also joined a cult group in the area. I belong
to the Eiye Confraternity. As a result of the death of my parents, I dropped
out of school in Senior Secondary School Class 2. I tried to learn welding, but
it was not successful. Then, I joined the robbery gang. I am not the leader of
the gang; the name of the gang leader is simply Dollar.”
Solomon, who lived on Baale Street in the Morogbo
area, added that it was a tenant who paid for his bail when he was arrested by
the Special Anti-Robbery Squad sometime last year.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer,
DSP Kenneth Nwosu, had yet to get back to our correspondent.
Source:Punch
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