How herbalist planned robbery of 81-year-old patient

A suspected robber, Segun Taiwo, has revealed how an herbalist gave him information on how rob an 81-year-old woman.

According to Taiwo, the herbalist, who was treating the 81-year-old woman’s daughter, cunningly got information from his patient about her mother’s wealth and residence, and then gathered robbers to attack.                

On the day Taiwo and his accomplice attacked the old woman’s home; they carted away $10,000, £5,000, N100, 000 and a box containing assorted jewelry. The old woman’s home was robbed at the weekend, at about 8pm.

The woman’s call for help, alerted operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Police Command, who were on patrol.

They were able to arrest Taiwo, while his accomplice escaped. When police went hunting for the herbalist, it was discovered he had fled his lair.

The woman was robbed at Oduduwa Street, Itire, Lagos. Taiwo said that he was invited to partake in the robbery by the herbalist, identified as Demola. Taiwo noted that the man promised to share whatever loot they were able to get from the woman’s apartment 50-50.

Taiwo said: "The mastermind is an herbalist. He was treating the woman's daughter (name withheld), who had a sore in her right foot. Whenever the patient visited him for treatment, he would stylishly pump her for information about her mother. Unknown to the patient, he was collecting all necessary descriptions and information needed to carry out the robbery. After a while, he told me that we have a special operation. He further told me that his patient must not be aware because we were going to their house to rob her mother.”

Taiwo said that the herbalist knew the exact description of the woman’s apartment knew the right time to attack and also knew the exact place she kept her money and valuables hidden.

Taiwo further narrated: “We carried out the robbery successfully. We gained entrance into the two-storey building and headed straight to the old woman’s flat. From our preliminary investigation, we got to know that the first flat, opposite the entrance gate was theirs. We went straight inside the flat without any stress. We met the old woman. She sat on a mat in the sitting room, praying. We dragged and threatened her with machete and axe. We told her to surrender all her belongings, including foreign currencies with her or else we would waste her life.”

Taiwo said that the old woman cooperated with them and handed over a bag filled with both Nigeria and foreign currencies.

He continued: "We also forcefully collected her gold jewelry box. On our way out, we heard her calling for help. Unknown to us, RRS operatives who were patrolling the area also heard her voice. As we were rushing out to escape from the house, operatives sighted us. We took to our heels. Immediately, the policemen made a hot chase which led to my arrest. My accomplice managed to escape with the local and foreign currencies, while the jewelry box was retrieved from me.”

The suspect said that they had before now, robbed a man along Okota road of his N200, 000.00).
Taiwo said: “My gang leader is a very powerful herbalist. He knows when you have money on you. The first day I followed him to rob, was a day we went to Okota road. On getting there, he saw a man and told me that the man had money on him. We moved closer to the man and he recited some incantations. To my surprise, the man handed over his N200, 000.00 to us. Out of that money, he gave me just N11, 000.00.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, said that the command was making effort to arrest the gang leader.