The Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos has arrested a set
of identical twins for robbing a factory belonging to Reckitt Benckiser,
producers of Dettol.
of identical twins for robbing a factory belonging to Reckitt Benckiser,
producers of Dettol.
Police authorities told Punch Metro that the duo, Taiye and
Kehinde Balogun, were welders and were hired by a robbery gang to break into
the firm’s warehouse in May last year. The robbery gang, it was learnt, robbed the company of soap
noodles and chemicals worth N17m.
Kehinde Balogun, were welders and were hired by a robbery gang to break into
the firm’s warehouse in May last year. The robbery gang, it was learnt, robbed the company of soap
noodles and chemicals worth N17m.
It was learnt that after the robbery, SARS detectives
launched an investigation into the case and the prime suspects were arrested in
February.
launched an investigation into the case and the prime suspects were arrested in
February.
The suspects were said to have implicated the twins who were
subsequently arrested.
subsequently arrested.
The twins, who are both 27-years-old, told Punch Metro that
they were not aware that they were being hired for a robbery operation.
they were not aware that they were being hired for a robbery operation.
Kehinde said, “Around May last year, we were called by one
guy known as Yankee who lives near our workshop in Agbara. He took us to meet
one Deji.
guy known as Yankee who lives near our workshop in Agbara. He took us to meet
one Deji.
“Deji claimed to be a storekeeper at the factory, saying he
had misplaced his key. He took us to the warehouse and said we should break the
locks open.
had misplaced his key. He took us to the warehouse and said we should break the
locks open.
“After breaking the locks, they told us to help them load
the chemicals into some trucks. They said they were under instructions to
transfer the cartons to another warehouse.
the chemicals into some trucks. They said they were under instructions to
transfer the cartons to another warehouse.
“After helping them load the goods, we were given N10,000
each.”
each.”
Detectives, however, told Punch Metro that investigations
revealed that the twins were aware that they were engaged in a robbery
operation.
revealed that the twins were aware that they were engaged in a robbery
operation.
Other suspects arrested along with the twins said the twins
had been informed of the operation beforehand.
had been informed of the operation beforehand.
A policeman said, “When we made initial arrest, the twins
claimed they were pawns in the operation and knew little, but when we
interrogated the other suspects, they said the twins were just as guilty.
claimed they were pawns in the operation and knew little, but when we
interrogated the other suspects, they said the twins were just as guilty.
“One of the suspects told us that initially, the twins were
not aware but when they told the twins about the plan, they swore to an oath
and vowed to cooperate.
not aware but when they told the twins about the plan, they swore to an oath
and vowed to cooperate.
“The welders association in the area said a directive
was given to all welders that they should
not break any lock unless the owner of the property gave direct permission.
was given to all welders that they should
not break any lock unless the owner of the property gave direct permission.
“The twins went to a warehouse under the instruction of a
purported storekeeper at 8am. They knew about the robbery.”
purported storekeeper at 8am. They knew about the robbery.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said she had yet to be briefed on the arrest.
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