Suspect angry with friend for luring him into robbery

An angry suspect, simply identified as Victor, is not happy that his partner in crime, Ajao Musbau a.k.a Alewedo, lured him into robbery and then turned around to assist police in catching him.

According to a police source, Victor said that he complained to his friend Musbau, that eating and taking care of his wife and kids was getting tough every day and that he was tired of collecting handout from his friend. He had nagged his friend to introduce him to his kind of business.

Now in police net, Victor reportedly spat: “But I didn’t tell him to introduce me to robbery! Now, he went and planned with police to catch me. In fact, it was only twice I went to rob with him! It was only one car we snatched! He went for a robbery and they arrested him. I didn’t even go with him to the robbery he was arrested. He now went with police to plan against me.”

Ironically, Victor was arrested after Musbau called and told him to meet him somewhere; that there was an operation they would be going for. Victor dashed to the venue like the hounds of hell were after him. He had not spent more than 10 minutes discussing with Musbau when policemen appeared from nowhere and slapped handcuffs on him.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Musbau is an Indian hemp seller who heads a robbery gang in Lagos State.

Musbau, who used to sell hemp at the Alakoko area of the state, was used as bait by the police, to catch other members of the gang.

Suspects in police custody, aside from Musbau and Victor, are Sunday, Emmanuel Ajao.

Recovered from the gang are four locally made guns and 24 cartridges.

Musbau was said to have been arrested while returning from a robbery operation.

While being quizzed by SARS detectives, Musbau mentioned Victor.

According to Victor, Musbau was his friend. He said that Musbau told him that he would assist him with a job, if he knew how to drive very well.

Victor said: “He told me that somebody wanted a car, that there was a place we should go and collect the car at Ikorodu. When he said that, I told him that I have two friends, who can also go with us. I wanted to know how we would collect the car, but Musbau said I shouldn’t worry.”

On the fateful day they would go for the operation, Musbau came with four guns, while Victor came with the two friends he had earlier promised to get.

A police source said: “They left for Ikorodu that night and succeeded in snatching a Camry car. Victor said he later didn’t know how Musbau disposed the car. But he was given N80, 000 for that operation.”

Victor kicked against the sharing formula after he discovered that Musbau took the lion share. He wanted Musbau to share the money equal, but Musbau told him that it was not done in any gang.

Two weeks later, Musbau called Victor for another operation.

The operation would take place at Ojota area of Lagos State. “They snatched a jeep from a driver at Ojota.  When they snatched the car, they asked the driver if the car had a security, he replied that he didn’t know because he was just a driver for the owner. As they were speeding away with the car, it suddenly halted,” said a police source.

After the gang snatched the car, they pushed the driver out at Maryland Bridge. They had not driven up to 30minutes, when the vehicle suddenly halted around Airport toll gate. There they abandoned the car.

According to Victor, since that abortive last operation, he had not seen Musbau. He also recalled that on the day of the failed operation, Musbau collected the four guns from them before they all parted.

“I had not seen Musbau for close to two weeks when he suddenly called one day and said there was a job. He said we should meet. I went to meet him at Iyana-Ipaja. I was discussing with him when the police surrounded us. I didn’t know that Musbau had been arrested by police for robbery and that he mentioned my name. I didn’t even take part in the robbery that led to Musbau’s arrest,” Victor said.