A member of five-man robbery gang arrested by the Anti-robbery Squad in Lagos has said he went into robbery because he needed to cater for his siblings as his parents are dead.
The robbery gang were said to have terrorized residents of Ijanikin area of the State on Sunday, May 24.
It was gathered that the robbery syndicate made up of 40 members, allegedly unleashed mayhem on residents and commuters around the Ketu, Iyana Era, Alasia, Morogbo areas of the State.
Luck however ran out on the gang on Sunday, as five of them were arrested by officers of the anti-robbery squad from the Ijanikin police division while they were operating at Palace Road and Amosugboro streets in the Ijanikin area.
A member of the robbery syndicate, Ajayi Solomon, 25, disclosed that he took to crime because his parents were late and he needed to cater for his younger ones.
The other suspects nabbed were, Momodu Williams, 19, Kazeem Ganiyu, 19, Seun Ariyo, 20, and 19-year-old Elijah Dada.
25-year-old Solomon, an indigene of Oto-Awori, Badagry disclosed that the robbery operation was planned while at the Egun festival as they drank and smoked, adding that he uses the proceeds gotten from robbery operations to take care of his five siblings.
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. s
“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.”
He further stated that his co-tenant paid for his release from detention last year when he was arrested by the police for the same offence.
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