Robbery suspect: We entered neighbour’s home through ceiling

Thirty-year-old Kabiru Abolarin has expressed regrets for conspiring with some of his partners in crime to access his neighbour’s apartment through the ceiling in order to rob her.

According to the suspect, the gang’s intention was to rob the woman of her money, but she told them she was cashless, thus handed over her car and phone to them.

Kabiru was arrested along with two of his partners. The Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr Abiodun Odude, said that Kabiru and his accomplices Olaleye Kolade 30, and the receiver of the stolen car, Seyi Owomoyela 28, committed the crime on August 12, 2017 at Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin in Kwara State.

Odude said that the suspects were arrested by the police while they were negotiating with the buyer who about collecting the stolen phone and the black Toyota Camry car marked LEM 121 TK.

Odude said: "The suspects sneaked into their victim's residence through the ceiling. They wore face masks, which prevented them from being recognised by the victim. They attacked the woman’s home with toy gun, machetes and other weapons.”

Kabiru, who masterminded the robbery because of his closeness to the victim in the community, said: “My gang and I didn’t have intention of stealing Alhaja's car. It was when we got to Alhaja’s residence that she advised us to take the car because she didn’t have much money on her. We then decided to take her phone and car. We moved straight down to Ibadan, but we were arrested at the place we were negotiating with a buyer. I’m sorry for my actions.”

The second suspect, Owomoyela in his account, said that he got involved only after the stolen car was brought to him to buy.

Owomoyela said: "I was not with them during the operation. It was Kabiru and his friend that brought the car to Ibadan to meet me; we were arrested along the line. I have never been involved in this kind of shady deal before. It was Kabiru that came to me.” 

The third accomplice, Kolade, said: "It’s true I was involved in the robbery operation at Gaa Akanbi area where we robbed Alhaja of her Toyota Camry car and phone. It was Kabiru that planned the whole robbery. His house is beside Alhaja’s. He told us that he suspected that Alhaja had some money in her home. He suggested that we should rob her. We planned on how to go about it. We got face masks and carried a toy gun. I armed myself with a cutlass; unfortunately, Alhaja asked us to take her car because she didn’t have much money on her. That was how we went away with the car and the phone."