Credit: Vanguard
By Evelyn Usman & Esther Onyegbula
A 55-year-old man alleged to be the leader of a robbery gang that specialises in attacking vehicles conveying goods to other states of the federation, yesterday, told a crowd at the Lagos State Police Command that he has used proceeds from robbery to build two houses.
white bearded suspect, a father of two, identified as Jude Dike, who was paraded alongside six other suspected members of the gang, disclosed that he started robbery three years ago.
However, himself and other suspected members of his gang were arrested last Saturday, by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, around Ebutte Metta area of Lagos.
Recovered from the suspects were a stolen Toyota Hiace bus, loaded with Volkswagen engines, female bags, female shoes and transmission oil for vehicles.
The gang’s mode of operation, as gathered, included laying woods with nails and other dangerous instruments close to bad spots at designated points along expressways across the South-West region of the country.
Expectedly, vehicles will slow down on reaching the point, only for the robbers to emerge from hiding and attack.
Briefing journalists on the arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, disclosed that a Beretta pistol with serial number P175131, nine rounds of 9mm ammunition, three locally-made pistols and 33 live cartridges were recovered from the gang.
He said: “The suspects confessed to several robberies within Lagos, Oyo and Ogun states. One Leonard Afaoku, was also arrested. Efforts to arrest other members of the gang are still on.”
‘How we operate’
At first the Imo State-born Dike denied having anything to do with other members of the gang, even when two of them claimed he was their boss and were introduced into the gang by him.
At a point, he opened up and said: “I do not go for robbery with them. What they do is to bring to me the goods they stole and in return I sell to ready buyers.
“I cannot count the number of trucks loaded with goods they have brought to me. But I remember them bringing a truck load of maggi (seasoning) which we sold for over N3 million, out of which I got N300,000.
“Another was a truck loaded with Milo (beverage) which was also sold for over N3 million and I got N800,000 from it. Again, they brought a vehicle loaded with cosmetics, which was sold for over 10 million out of which I collected N900,000. I used the money to build a house in my village. Another building is almost finished.
“I was arrested when I wanted to sell an AK-47 riffle to one of them. I am not the owner of the gun, but was only acting as an intermediary. I told the supposed buyer to bring N150,000 for the gun. We were discussing on the amount on the phone, not knowing he has been arrested.
“I am not their leader. They only said it to rope me in. I feel very bad now that I have been arrested. I knew that one day I will be arrested, but I never knew it will be this soon. I had the desire to stop but was afraid they might end up killing me.”
We use wooden guns— suspect
On his part, another suspected member of the gang, Ejike Emewo, 29, said: “We usually blocked the road with sticks that have nails. Our targets are usually vehicles loaded with goods that are on their way out of Lagos.
“We usually drop these sticks close to bad spots, knowing that vehicles will stop on reaching there. Immediately they stop, we will come out of hiding and point sticks which look like guns at the driver.
“We do not use guns to operate. Immediately the driver alights, we will tell his to hand the key over to us and we will zoom off. Our first port of call is Baba (Dike’s) place.
“This is my second time of going on operation with the gang. The first time I went, we did not see any vehicle. We stayed in the bush from 12.30am to 6am without luck. It was on my second attempt that I was arrested.”
‘Why I joined the gang’
He added: “I joined the gang last month (August) out of frustration. I have been living in China for three years before I had problem and was repatriated. I started sending money to China to buy goods.
“I was managing with that when the doctor informed me that my pregnant wife would give birth through Caesarian Section. At the end of the operation, I spent N270,000, yet the baby died.
“I could not send money to China for goods anymore. In my bid to raise money to restart my business, I approached Baba (Dike) who owed me.
“Rather than pay me, he said I should join his boys to rob. My intention was to raise N470,000 to start business, not knowing that it will never be.”
I joined because of poverty
—ANOTHER SUSPECT
Another suspected member, who gave his name as Emmanuel Ifeanyi, said: “Out of frustration, I approached Baba (Dike) for help. He promised I would get back on my feet again, if I join his boys.
“I joined because I am from a poor family. My parents and siblings look up to me for survival.
“The first time I went with them, we operated along Ibadan/Ilesha expressway. We snatched a Toyota Camry car and took it to Baba, who sold it and gave me N7,000. He told us he sold the car for N40,000.”
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