They leave many in tears and sorrow whenever they carry out their ‘one chance’ robbery technique posing as commercial bus operators.
As early as 5am when they hit the road, whoever falls to their tricks becomes a victim.
Unknown to the innocent passengers, the gang had gun and other dangerous weapons they use as tools to dispossess unsuspecting victims of their belongings.
The rest is now history as Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of Lagos State Police Command has arrested them.
The arrested suspects are Michael Shomuti, Bimbo Ibitoye, Idis Dabiri and Saheed Abdulkareem.
Investigations revealed that the gang operates in Ijede, Ikorodu, Ketu, Ojota, Oshodi, Oworonshoki, Bariga and Victoria Island.
However, luck ran out on them on the 28th of April, 2015 when they used a Mazda MPV Space Bus to pose as commercial bus operators.
The bus had a fake registration number. AKD 510CJ. They had earlier removed the original plate number, EPE 33DC from the vehicle. In that operation, they picked a female banker at Charlie Boy Bus Stop at about 5am, before picking another aged man.
It was gathered that they were 6-man gang, but four of them operated that day.
They dispossessed the victims of their belongings including monies, phones and ATM cards.
The female banker was raped on motion after they dropped the aged man.
Since then, police have been trailing them. In another operation, they picked a police officer who was on mufty. Unknown to them, the man had his service pistol with him. There was an exchange of gun fire leading to instant death of one of them and another sustained injury, while the rest managed to escape.
With the clue they left behind after abandoning the vehicle and their dead colleague, SARS was able to arrest them days after.
Investigation revealed that before they bought their operation vehicle, they were hiring a bus from a mechanic. They were using an OPEL Savera with Reg. No. AGL 634 DE which belongs to a mechanic at Idumota.
They always hire the vehicle for N10, 000 a day and start operation from 5am to 9am and from 8pm to midnight.
Apart from the money paid to the mechanic, they were said to be giving him choice phones after operation.
Shomuti, 34 from Ifo, Ogun State and resident at Ijede in Ikorodu said he started one chance robbery last year.
But police investigation revealed he had been in the trade for four years.
“I cannot count how many times we did it. We rob along Obalende, Oshodi and Oworoshoki, we start from 8pm to 12am and we use two guns”, he confessed.
Adebari, 28, driver from Imota, Lagos said, “I was arrested for armed robbery, I am the gang leader.
“I became an armed robber at Mile in 2014, I called Michael, Bimbo aka Capon, Seye aka Nice and told them that as drivers, coming to the garage every day to look for work and going home in the evening without money has become a major problem.
“We needed to look for vehicle and start one chance robbery. So we started by hiring a bus. After some time, we shared N400, 000:00 each. I told them to buy their own buses with the money so that we will stop robbery.”
Abdulkareem, 32, from Ilorin Kwara State said, “I have participated in robbery operation five times. It was Michael that introduced me to robbery. I was not among the gang that shared N400, 000. I have only made N160, 000. I was with them when Seyi aka nice raped a girl. Seyi is still at large. I did not know if the gang had guns, I only use cutlass during operation.”
Commenting on the arrest, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Keneth Nwosu said the suspects would be charged to the court as soon as investigation is concluded.
Source:Daily Independent
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