Gang leader weeps: Tell Nigerians robbery is bad

A suspected gang leader, Henry Ogidi, 31, must have been perceived as a strong man by his gang members of suspected robbers before they decided to kowtow to him as their leader.

The gang members were shocked out of their bone marrows when they witnessed Ogidi crying his eyes out, while fielding questions from some journalists.

Wiping his eyes and sniffing, Ogidi said: “It’s sad. I feel so bad. I pray that if we get out of this alive, God we’ll never allow us to continue with this kind of life again. Please, also tell Nigerians that robbery is not the best life for anyone.”

According to the police, Ogidi is the brain behind all robbery operations carried out by the gang. He was alleged to have been caught in possession of a pistol. He admitted to have been robbing for almost a year.  He further confessed that whatever loots the gang scoops during operation, they share equally.

 Those arrested along with Ogidi are Tochukwu Caleb, 21, Ezekiel Joshua, 29, and Christopher Okerube, 19.

Police alleged that the gang specialises in stealing motorcycles, laptops, mobile phones and other gadgets.

They were arrested by the Area E Police Command, Festac, Lagos, on December 23, 2016.

Caleb, who was first caught, explained that he was arrested at Alakija.  

He said: “I was caught by people on the street, when I tried to snatch a motorcycle at Alakija in the night. The crowd beat me up. I was later picked by a police patrol van and taken to Area E Police Command.”

Caleb would later lead the police to the residence of the other gang members.

Joshua denied being a member of the gang. He explained that he was arrested after police came to Ogidi’s house and saw him. According to him, he squats with Ogidi, but didn’t know that the latter was into robbery.

Joshua told police that he was aware that Ogidi had a pistol, but denied knowing that Ogidi uses it for robbery.

Joshua said: “I’m not part of them. I was caught in Henry’s apartment when police came looking for him. I knew he had a gun, but I didn’t know the gun was for robbery.”

The youngest of the lot, Okerube, also denied being a robber. He said he was fingered by Caleb, whom he had never set eyes on before until the day Caleb dragged him into trouble.

He recounted: “I don’t know this Caleb from Adam. It was because people were beating him that he brought policemen to our house. He lied against me just to stop the crowd from beating him to death.”

Okerube’s denial, was however, countered by the rest of the gang members. They insisted that he was their friend and was with them on their last operation.