Emmanuel Tochukwu is the star
suspect in this week’s achievement of the Lagos State Police Command. He is a
big time gun runner, who tells his wife that he is just a car sales man. He is
presently assisting the police to fish out his boss, one Alhaji Zulo, who
resides in Benin Republic and used to smuggle the weapons into Nigeria via
luxury buses, in a bags filled onions. He is also helping police to hunt for
Nigerians he had supplied machine guns and rocket launchers.
In this interview with TAIWO JIMOH, he reveals more about his
gun running business. Excerpt:
Who is this Alhaji you keep talking about?
He’s name is Alhaji Zulo. The
arms were given to me by him. The Alhaji is base in Cotonou. We met at a car
park in Cotonou. I was discussing with my friend Vincent, when Alhaji came into
the park. He knew Vincent and from there, he knew me and we became friends. And
later, we became business partners.
How much do you sell the guns each?
Let’s take for example now…
the double barrel gun…I sell it for 3000 cephas and sometimes, Alhaji will tell
me to sell some guns for 15000 cephas, but I will add something on top of the
money. What I added is my commission. It’s my payment.
How were you arrested?
I was arrested because of the AK 47 rifles I
sold to this man …Emmanuel Ehianeta… Arab…I didn’t know that Arab is an armed robber.
He told me that he needed the guns for oil bunkery. I was arrested as I was
going for burial in Asaba Delta State.
Why do you have guns in the boot of your car?
I was planning to replace those guns with a
better one for the people that bought it. They said those ones in my boot were
faulty. So, I wanted to change it for them. The people who bought them are in
East. I promised them that whenever I’m coming to the East, I would come with
better ones for them.
How much have you paid since you started this gun
running business?
We don't make money the way
you think! I work with the Alhaji base on commission.
How do your customers know where and how to contact
you if they need guns?
It was somebody that introduced
Arab to me… that he was into oil business…that they used the guns to protect
their oil area. That was why that my contact referred Arab to me. Most
customers don’t usually pay until they are satisfied with the condition of the
guns I supplied them. When the guns have been certified okay, they pay me. It’s
after they had paid, that Alhaji will pay me. The business is not an everyday
one. It comes once in a while. The first money paid to me when I started this
business was 4million Cephas.
Do you know where Alhaji used to get those guns from?
I don't now where he got the guns from…but
what he told me was that whenever I come across anybody that needed guns, I
should contact him.
Do you use charms to fortify yourself in this line of
business?
I don’t use any charm! What I believe is that
whatever anybody is doing…such a person is doing it for God. I believe very
much in God.
What message do you have for Alhaji?
Alhaji knows me very well…I believe
he’ll never deny me.
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