How we monitored huge withdrawals from banks-suspect

A 23-year-old suspected armed robber, Tunde Adewale, has told detectives attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Police Command how he and his gang members used to trail and rob customers’ moments after they leave banking halls.

Revealing their modus operandi, Adewale said a gang member would go into the banking hall, pretending to be one of the customers. 

Under that guise, the gang member would monitor people making huge withdrawals. The gang would later trail and dispossessed the person of his or her money.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni,  Adewale was part of a five-man-robbery gang which used to lay ambush for bank customers in different areas within the metropolis.  He added that the gang used to rob people at gunpoint.

He added: “The suspect was arrested while attempting to rob another victim at Iyana- Ipaja area. When the gang members sighted a police patrol team, they took to their heels. Luck however ran out against Adewale. He was arrested.”

Adewale said: “After the person had spied on those withdrawing huge amount of money, he would come out and inform us. Two of us would sit on a motorbike, waiting for the person to come out. Immediately we sighted the victim, we start operation. My role is to point gun at a victim and collect his money. After that, we would zoom off!

“I was a tricycle rider before, but the profit from that business wasn’t enough. I needed money to discharge my wife from the hospital, who had just given birth. This was why I went to my friend Sunday to assist me with a loan. He didn’t give the money. He promised to introduce me to a job that would fetch me plenty money. That was how I joined robbery and went for my first operation at Jakande Estate. We robbed a lady coming out of a bank. We robbed her N200, 00. I got N50, 000 as my share.

“My wife was later discharged from the hospital by her family members. I had no option than to continue with the gang. I was making money from the operations.”

Adewale further explained that he joined robbery last year January. He said he had participated in five operations. He said he made N200,000 in his second operation and N300,000 in the third. He later used part of his loot to buy a Honda Salon car.

Owoseni warned customers in banking halls to be mindful of people they chatted with. He also urged that suspicious persons should be reported immediately to the police.