19, 20-Year Old Among 19-Man Robbery Gang Terrorizing Lagos…. SEE Their Faces

A 20-year-old robbery suspect, Yusuf Lawal, who was recently
arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, says he started robbing at the age
of seven. It was learnt that Lawal, aka Eletu, and another member
of his gang, Taju Alabi, aka Kolo, were arrested in the Ebute Meta area of the
state.

Officers of the Anti-Robbery Squad
attached to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, were patrolling
Kadiri and Kano streets around 4am when they heard a cry for help.

A group of robbers, numbering 19, were said to be operating
in the community at the time.

The police, while responding to the call for help, arrested
20-year-old Lawal. He was said to be dispossessing a victim of money, phones,
and other valuables. 

His accomplice, however, stabbed the victim and fled the
scene.

Lawal, who is the only child of his parents, was taken to
the SDCI for interrogation, during which he led the police to make other
arrests.

The Lagos State indigene said he started with petty robbery
and refused to stop even after his father had told him to.

The father of one said he turned out badly due to peer
pressure.

He said, “I am the only child of my parents. I grew up not
knowing my mother, who died when I was still a child. I don’t know what my
father does for a living.

“My father could not correct me because I always overpowered
him whenever he attempted to do so. I later ran away from home and started
living with a friend in Idi-Oro, Mushin.

“I started robbing when I was seven after I quit primary
school. My friend, Sule, introduced me to robbery and we always went out to rob
residents. We stole phones, money, and other valuables.

“Also, we usually rob very early in the morning. I will turn
a new leaf if the police can release me.”

There was a mild drama when the second suspect, Alabi, denied
knowing Lawal and said he had never participated in any of the robberies.

Lawal, while confronting him with his sin, said, “On two
different occasions, I stole phones and gave them to you to sell, which you did
and we later shared the money.

“You saw me living large and you asked me for the secret,
and I told you. We have been doing this together so tell the truth. When we
were robbing people, you should have known this will be the end.”

However, Alabi, who is 18-years-old, subsequently owned up,
adding that he had only gone for three operations.

“Yes, he’s my friend and we have been friends since
childhood. We met at Mushin. I work at a carwash and I am also a bus conductor.
I have only stolen three phones. It is true that we rob people,” he added.

A police source said the suspects had been cooperating with
the police and giving useful information.

“They were 19 in number that participated in the robbery
that morning. We were on a patrol that morning when we received a distress
call. We quickly deployed our men and Lawal was caught red-handed. We are on
the trail of the other suspects, and soon, they will be arrested,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Joe Offor, when
contacted for comment, promised to call back but had yet to do so as of the
time of filing this report.

Source