‘We rob rich, stingy Muslim leaders to help the poor’

CP, Oyo State, Inbawa

A 39-year-old armed robbery suspect, Alhaji Farouk Badmus has defended his criminal exploit, pointing out that his desire and that of his colleague was to rob well-to-do Islamic leaders who refuse to help the poor in the society.
Badmus said in Ibadan that initially, he planned to settle scores with an influential Alhaji who denied him N80, 000 financial assistance to carry out surgery on his wife about three year ago, adding that he later compiled names of other leaders who would be robbed in the state.
Badmus and his colleague in crime, Adewale, are currently at the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ibadan where they are being interrogated.
Badmus said: “When my wife was on admission in 2010, I needed N80, 000 which was charged for surgery. I went to see my brother but he refused to assist me. Though we lost the baby, I have now gotten another one. I then planned to avenge myself of that denial.”
The suspect disclosed that he called a 29-year-old former youth corps member whom he told of his plan to deal with his Muslim brother, who despite the fact that they worshipped in the same mosque, refused to assist him.
He further said that the second suspect, Yinus Adewale, consented to work with him, especially after he convinced him of the need to teach well-to-do but stingy Islamic leaders, lessons by robbing them and giving half of the stolen money from them to the poor people.
Adewale in his explanation, told our reporter that he made his friend to understand that it would not be easy to rob except, he was fully armed, adding that Badmus promised to make funds available for the criminal adventure.
Adewale said: “He gave me N50, 000 and I went to Taraba State where I bought Berretta gun. I brought the gun down to Ibadan for our operations. Alhaji Badmus strongly instructed me that whatever proceeds we got, we must use half of it   for the poor in the society and our target was the rich but stingy Muslim leaders.”
Adewale further said that he was unfortunate during his first assignment at Monatan area of Ibadan, where he was detailed to rob one popular Alhaji in the community.
“He instructed me that the man he sent me to was the leader of NASFAT and that though he was rich and could assist people but he had however turned him down during his hour of needs, and thus he should be dealt with.”
The suspect disclosed that he knew the NASFAT leader who he was directed to rob, adding that on getting to the Muslim leader’s house, he lied to the man that his brother who recently came home from USA wanted him to come and pray for him.
The suspect disclosed that the victim said that it was not in his character to go and pray for people, adding that as he stood up to bring out the gun to order him to release the money in his house, the gun was seized by the NASFAT leader.
According to him, the victim cried for help and people around stormed the premises and he was subsequently arrested.
The State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohamnned Indabawa confirmed that the two suspects would be charged to court after police investigation.