The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP, Fatai Owoseni, on Tuesday paraded a suspect, one Tunde Adewale, believed to be part of a five-man robbery gang who laid ambush for bank customers in different areas within the metropolis.
The CP added that the gang usually robbed their victims at gunpoint.
He said, “The suspect was arrested while attempting to rob another victim at Iyana-Ipaja area. When the gang members sighted a police patrol team, they took to their heels.
“Luck ran out on Adewale when he was arrested,” the CP stated.
The 23-year-old suspect confessed to the crime; he told detectives attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, Lagos State how he and his gang members trailed and robbed customers moments after they leave banking halls.
According to Adewale, a gang member would go into the banking hall, pretending to be a customer.
“After the person had spied on those withdrawing huge amounts of money, he would come out and inform us. Two of us would sit on a motorcycle, waiting for the person to come out.
“Immediately we sight the victim, we start operation.
“My role is to point gun at a victim and collect his money. After that, we would zoom off.
“I was a tricycle rider before, but the profit from that business wasn’t enough and I needed money to discharge my wife from the hospital, who had just given birth.
“This was why I went to my friend, Sunday, to assist me with a loan. He didn’t give the money. He promised to introduce me to a job that would fetch me plenty of money.
“That was how I joined robbery in January last year and went for my first operation at Jakande Estate.
“We robbed a lady coming out of a bank. We robbed her of N200, 000. I got N50, 000 as my share.
“My wife was later discharged from the hospital by her family members. I had no option than to continue with the gang. I was making money from the operations.”
The suspect said he had participated in five operations.
According to him, he made N200, 000 in his second operation and N300, 000 in the third; he later used part of his loot to buy a Honda car.
Owoseni urged that suspicious persons should be reported immediately to the police and warned customers in banking halls to be mindful of people they talk with.
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