Robbery is fastest way of making money– Suspect

A suspected armed robbery suspect, Sule Aliu, 21, has told policemen attached to the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, that he abandoned his shop, where he repairs air conditioners and take to robbery because money from robbery was easy to make.

Aliu was arrested alongside others, namely Ibrahim Martin, 20,  Adekunle Miceal, 19, Nnamdi Atumphrey, 22, and Yinka Arokoyo, 32.

According to police, the gang specialises in snatching handsets, bags,ATM cars and other valuables from unsuspecting victims during traffic jam.

It was gathered that the suspects used to  attack  motorists and their passengers with cutlasses.      

A police source said: “ On August, 14, 2014, at about 6am, the gang attacked and robbed one Dolapo Ashru. He attacked on his way to work along Olapomeji/ Car wash bus- stop, towards  Third Maryland Bridge.”

Aliu confessed: “We used cutlasses to rob. I have a shop at Lateef Dosun Street Ifako Gbagada, where I repair air conditioner. I left my job to taken to robbery because it was easy way of making fast money.”

One of the suspects, Martin, an Aluminum worker,  said: “I don’t have shop. I’m single. I stole  a bag at Lagos Island from a woman. There was alot of money inside the bag and there were recharge cards too. While I was trying to get away, police arrested. This is my second time of stealing. My first operation was in Lagos.  I made about N5000 my first time. I used the money to buy clothes.  If God saves me from this, I will start preaching to people that stealing is not good.”

Michael on the other hand said: “My work is hustling.  I’m single and I do sell table water and soft drink.

I join the gang last year.  I used to steal phones at Ifako expressway.  We have robbed  different places. We used cutlasses not guns. We prefer to operate around 6 a.m. I feel bad and I will stop robbing and I promise to learn work.”

Nnamdi narrated his own story: “ I joined the robbery gang because there was no work at site. My parent are living in Abuja, I stay away from them because of my work.  I feel so bad now.  I used cutlass to threaten people.”