A gang of suspected armed robbers, who rob commercial motorists and passengers with toy guns have been nabbed by the police in Lagos. The suspects - Okeke Christian, Paul Igwe and Akazue Nwakonuche were arrested at about 9:30pm in Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos by the Ikotun Police Division on December 11 after a foiled attempt to rob a tricycle driver and subsequently handed over to the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further investigation, Punch reports.
A fourth member of the gang, identified simply as Nwankpa, is said to be at large.
While recounting how they operate, 26-year-old Nwakonuche from Anambra State, said:
"I came to Lagos in 2010 to stay with an uncle in Ikotun. That was where I met the gang. Later, my uncle travelled to India and left a small shop for me... It was Paul (Igwe) who brought the idea of robbing tricycle drivers and passengers to the gang. He also brought Nwankpa to join us.
"Our mode of operation is to use toy guns to rob motorists and passengers. All of us had toy guns and cutlasses. But on that Thursday, we went to the Ikotun Roundabout and entered a tricycle with the purpose of robbing it. At a point, we pointed our guns to the driver, and he melted.
"But when he suspected we had toy guns, he gave out a shout, and some vigilance members got after us immediately. They gave us a chase, pursuing us into the hands of the police."
Nwakonuche, said he is the first among eight children, adding that he had dropped out of secondary school due to financial difficulties.
Christian, 29, also from Anambra State, said:
Christian, 29, also from Anambra State, said:
"My role during the operation is to search the commercial bus, tricycle and abandoned bags for money, handsets and other valuables. Before I joined the gang, I used to sell ladies' wares in Ikotun. It was Paul (Igwe) who brought me into the gang. Now, I regret taking that decision."
Twenty-year-old Igwe, confessed that he organised the gang, and planned their operations, adding that they sold every tricycle they snatched for at least N150, 000.
"My alias is wiper. I am the gang leader. I brought the idea of robbing motorists, passengers and snatching tricycles. I met my gang members at our hemp smoking joint. One man named Roughman is the receiver of our snatched tricycles. He bought each from for us at N50,000."
It was gathered that the driver of the tricycle, Chukwudi Ebirim, was beaten up by the gang and sustained injuries, before the police arrested the suspects.
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