The Lagos State Police Command has
arrested a gang of armed robbers who allegedly hijacked a truck load of
rice in the Iyana Oworo area of the state.
SURENIGERIA PUNCH Metro learnt that the
suspects – Samuel Igwe and Kingsley Okorie – were nabbed by operatives
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad around the Third Mainland Bridge area.
The police said they were arrested in
the first week of December, 2014. It was learnt that the owner of the
hijacked truck, Mr. Jerry, had initially reported the matter at the
Iyana Oworo Police Division.
According to the police, the truck, with
registration number, ABD 35 XA, was heading for Ughelli, Delta State
before it was hijacked by the suspects. The police further revealed that
the truck conveyed 600 bags of rice valued at N6.3m.
The police later found the hijacked
truck abandoned on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Sango, Ogun State, while
the suspects were traced to a hideout in the area where they were
arrested.
It was gathered that the three persons
inside the truck, when it was hijacked, were abandoned and dumped in the
bush by the suspects.
Speaking with SURENIGERIA Metro,
38-year-old Okorie from Owerri, Imo State, said they were a six-man gang
that carried out the operation, adding that they sold the truck load of
rice for N2.7m.
He said, “We were six in the gang, and
we planned the operation in a house in the Abule Egba area. One man we
simply call ‘Papa’ is our leader. He also got a military uniform and
wore it during the operation. I heard that the gang sold the truck to a
buyer for N2.7m, but I was given only N40,000.
“I was a clothes seller in the Oshodi
Market before I joined the gang. I regret going on the operation. At the
end of the day, I was only given a little share. The others shared the
rest.”
Also, 39-year-old Igwe from Orlu, Imo
State, said he was the one who found the customer for the hijacked
truck, and he was given about N100,000 for the deal.
He said, “I was the one who provided the
buyer. At the end of the transaction, I was paid N100,000. I was
working as an electrician in the Alagbado area before I met the gang.
“This is the first time I would provide a
buyer for stolen goods. It was poverty that made me to involve myself
in the operation.”
Our correspondent learnt that the goods
were sold to two traders indentified simply as Akinnuwa and Shittu, who
had also been arrested by the police.
Our correspondent learnt that Igwe was
released from custody for a similar case a few months ago. It was learnt
that the police were still making efforts to arrest other fleeing
members of the gang.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP
Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that the suspects had been
charged to court.
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