A 54-year-old grandmother, Bola Ajayi, has been arrested alongside six others for robbery in Lagos state.
She was arrested for allegedly receiving some of the stolen goods.
Ajayi, who hails from Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested by operatives attached to the Zone 2 Police Command in the Ilupeju area of the state.
The other six suspects – Taiwo Olabode, 38, Dele Rotimi, 37, Olanrewaju Gbadamosi, 33, Lukman Akinola, 33,Uche Anthony, 27, and Taiwo Ayodele, 27, were arrested for allegedly hijacking trucks at gunpoint in different parts of Ondo, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states.
Parading the suspects, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Abdulmajid Ali, said investigation was ongoing.
He said, “The suspects were arrested in Ore, Ondo State; Fiditi, Oyo State; and Ogijo, Ogun State. The syndicate confessed to hijacking and robbing about four trailers between 2015 and now.
“They were also involved in serial kidnappings in those states. Investigation is in progress and the suspects will soon appear in court.
“They were arrested at about 10am on August 1, while allegedly on a robbery operation at a hotel in Ore, Ondo State.
“Two locally-made guns and one dummy gun were recovered from them,” Ali added.
While being paraded at the zonal headquarters, Ajayi denied knowing the gang members.
According to her, “I do not know any of these gang members. It is true that I bought about 100 cartons of drinks from Lanre’s father (Gbadamosi). That was in April 2015.
“I did not know the goods were stolen. The man was my friend’s husband. It was the man who said he had some goods to sell and I paid him.
“I cannot recall how much I paid for the cartons. I have never met his son or any of these people. I have children and grandchildren; I cannot rob.”
On his part, Gbadamosi said he had participated in two robbery operations but he had repented.
He said, “I am not the ring leader but when the police arrested me, I became sober. I was the one who led police operatives to arrest the others. I had gone to rob on just two occasions. I cannot say how much I made.
“I was into plank business before. A friend introduced me to hijacking trucks and I made N300,000 on my first operation.”
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