Operatives
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command,
have arrested a worker with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)
for alleged robbery.
The
suspect, Steven Donatus (20), confessed that he used to work as LAWMA at day
time, while at night, he goes for robbery operations.
Donatus,
while revealing what led to his arrest, said: “It was true I partook in the
operation. I work with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in the
morning, while at night I go for robbery operation. We were about to rob a cyclist
at Oyingbo when we saw policemen and took to our heels.”
Donatus
said that on the fateful day of his arrest, he returned from an operation and
was about to rest, when he discovered his wife was feverish. He decided to go
and buy medicine for her.
His
words: “I went out to buy drugs for her, not knowing policemen were waiting for
me at home. When I saw them, I thought of running, but knew they would shoot
me. I didn’t run. They allowed me to give my wife her medicine. Thereafter, I
was arrested me; right in the presence of my wife and son.”
He
added: “The very day I was arrested, was the saddest day of my life. My
wife and son were crying, but my wife didn’t know the type of work I was
doing. She thought that I made my money only through waste management
work. I want my wife and son to forgive me.
Donatus
was arrested along with Paul Daniel (28) and Muhammed Saliu (28).
Daniel,
who came to Lagos two years ago, said that he was a commercial bus driver in Plateau
State, but had to turn his attention to robbery after he discovered that money
from transportation business was not too fantastic.
He
said: “When I got to Lagos, I started sleeping in a friend’s shop at Mile 12
Market. In the morning hours, I work as a cart pusher, at night I go out to
rob. I was going for robbery operations alone for three months without being
arrested.
“Whenever
I was going for operation, I dress haggardly and would wrap my locally made
pistol in a dirty suit. I then keep everything inside a nylon bag to make
people believe that I was returning from the market. It was proceeds I made
from the robbery operation that I used to rent apartment. What I thought when I
was coming to Lagos was that within two months, I would have become a wealthy
person. But it was not easy to rob in Lagos. It was during my operation
that I came across these two people that are working with me now. I regret
coming to Lagos. If I had known, I would have remained in Plateau State. I was
arrested on June 24, when we were about to rob a cyclist of his motorcycle at Oyingbo
area of the state. Immediately we saw policemen, we ran in different directions.
After I escaped from the scene, we met at Mile 12. I gave the pistol to
Muhammed to keep.”
Saliu
on his part denied participating in the robbery operation. He said: “We
are only friend; I’m surprise about Daniel statement. I was in my barbing
saloon shop at Mile 12, when I saw Daniel with a nylon bag. He handed it over
to me, to keep for him. He promised to collect it the following day. The following day, which was Friday, I was
waited for him to come for it.
“To
my surprise, three policemen walked straight into my shop and asked me about a
pistol. I told them I didn’t have any gun with me. When the policemen
threatened to shoot me, it was then I brought out the nylon bag. When the
policemen opened the nylon, to astonishment, a pistol was brought out. At that
point, there was nothing I could do. I still don’t know how the policemen
knew I had gun with me. I regret associating with Daniel. I don’t know anything
about the pistol.”
The
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Muazu Zubairu, who presented suspects to
journalists, said that they would soon be charged to court. He warned robbers
to think twice before coming into Lagos State.
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