An armed robbery gang robbed for hours in various
parts of Lagos State between Sunday evening and Monday morning, using the
vehicle of an abducted man, Mr. Uche Ochuriuzor.
The robbers, who took Ochuriuzor round during the
robbery spree, also killed an unidentified man.
The development comes barely a week after 20
armed robbers attacked Regal Seaview Estate, Lekki.
Ochuriuzor said the robbers held him for 17
hours, adding that the ease with which they operated was shocking.
Ochuruizor, who was locked up in the boot of his
Toyota Sequoia after the robbers had fled, was later rescued by passersby who
were attracted by his continuous shout for help.
He said, “I was driving home around Idimu at
7:30pm when a gang of armed robbers attacked me. The robbers, numbering about
eight or 10, came in a vehicle and some of them entered my SUV.
“They pushed me into the boot and drove off. The
robbers were speaking in both Yoruba and Igbo languages. They said they were
after Toyota Camry and Toyota Sienna vehicles. At a point, they (robbers)
attempted to snatch a Camry but ended up shooting and killing the occupant of
the vehicle. They however did not snatch the car because a bullet had damaged
one of the tyres.
“The robbers later snatched a Sienna and then
drove to Ajah where they robbed and then drove to a beach around 2am. The
robbers later went to relax in the beach where they were enjoying themselves.
Another witness, who spoke to our correspondent
on the condition of anonymity, said it was really surprising that the robbers
operated for that long without being caught.
The eyewitness said, “After about three hours,
they (robbers) drove to Atunrase Street, Surulere, where they attacked a
recharge card wholesaler.
“The robbers seemed to have had a tip-off that
one of the workers of the company was in possession of a huge sum of cash. They
(the robbers) attacked the employee and then made away with a large number of
recharge cards.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that around 11am, the
robbers moved down to Ishaga Road, near the Lagos University Teaching Hospital,
Idi-Araba where they robbed passers-by and shot sporadically.
“The robbers that I saw were more than six. They
shot into the air, causing passers-by to run helter-skelter. The robbers then
attacked a black Sports Utility Vehicle and shot at the driver but he wasn’t
hit,” he added.
It was learnt that when the bandits noticed that
one of the front tyres of Ochuriuzor’s SUV was about going flat, they transferred
all that they stole from their victims into the black SUV and then sped off.
Ochuruizor, who was still disoriented, said his
fear throughout the robbery operations was that police could easily mistake him
for a robber and shoot him.
“When the robbers were operating, I was just
praying to God that the police shouldn’t accost them because exchange of
gunfire would have ensued and I would have been mistaken for an armed robber
and shot. At a point, I fainted inside the boot,” he said.
An inspection of Ochuruizor’s vehicle at a police
station on Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, showed several recharge cards and
alcoholic drinks inside it.
Ochuruizor revealed that the robbers carried out
at least five operations between the time he was abducted and when he regained
his freedom.
He said, “During one of the robbery operations,
they stole a vehicle which did not have a number plate. The robbers then called
someone who brought a number plate and screwed it unto the vehicle.
“The robbers were also angry because my registration
number was inscribed all over my vehicle, including my windows. I however
apologised to them, telling them that I bought the SUV from someone and had to
secure it well.
It was learnt that the vehicle had been
taken to Surulere Police Division.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi
Braide, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said
investigations were ongoing.
She added that the victim was held incommunicado
thus making it difficult for him to get in touch with the police.
She said, “The victim said he was abducted at
Idimu and pushed into the boot of his vehicle and later taken to Ajah and Lekki
area where the culprits robbed and then took him to a beach. When asked how he
knew he was in a beach since he was trapped in the boot, the victim said the
robbers brought him out of the SUV.
“He (victim) said they later took him to Lawanson
but when the robbers sighted a police convoy, they abandoned the vehicle and
fled.
“The police couldn’t do anything because they
hadn’t received any report since the victim had been rendered incommunicado.
The matter is being investigated at Surulere Division.”
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