The suspect, Nnagbo Emeka John, 23, who claimed to be a 100-level student of the Department of Education Foundation of the institution, said he came to Lagos to visit his friend (name withheld), who lodged him in a hotel at Mazamaza near Mile 2 in Lagos.
He stated that his friend asked him out one night but the outing ended up as a robbery operation. On the same day, he confessed that the gang carried out four operations within Lagos and Ogun states.
The suspect, according to the police, was arrested in a bushy area at Ejigbo, Lagos on 19 August, where he and other members of the gang had allegedly gone to share their loot.
During his arrest an English pistol and 82 live ammunition were found on him.
Speaking to P.M.NEWS, a source at the SARS said: “While armed with one AK47, one English pistol and two locally-made pistols, they robbed a hotel in Lagos. They also robbed at Akute, Ogun state and came back to Lagos on the same day to rob two popular hotels at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
“The suspect was arrested after they had shared their loot, while nine other members of the gang who were from Ogun state went back to their base. The suspect, who was not familiar with the state was arrested while his friend escaped.”
Nnagbo, who claimed to be ignorant of his friend’s business said: “I came to Lagos on 8 August, for holiday, to see a friend who is also from my village. He lodged me in a hotel at old Ojo Road, Mazamaza. He never told me that he was into armed robbery; he only told me that he sells fridge spare parts.
“On 19 August, he told me that we shall be going out with some friends. As we entered his friends’ car, I saw a police gun (AK47). I started shivering but he told me that I should not worry, that they would not kill me.
“We first robbed at a hotel in Lagos. Because I do not know Lagos, I do not know the name of the place. We later moved to Akute, Ogun state, where we robbed a man in his house and collected his Lexus Jeep and some other valuables. Then we came back to Lagos and robbed two hotels.
“On that day I was not with a stable mind, as I was not comfortable but my friend told me not to worry. I was arrested after they had shared the loot and nine other gang members from Ogun state had gone back.
“I was not given anything from the loot. They said it was my first operation and I did not participate actively; and that my friend should give me part of his share. The pistol and the ammunition were kept in my bag by my friend who escaped when policemen accosted us and arrested me.”
The officer in-charge of the squad, Mr. Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police, said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.
In a related incident, the State Investigation Bureau,(SIB), Lagos, has arrested 18 suspected armed robbers at a notorious brothel, popularly called Agbole, in Ejigbo area, Lagos State Southwest Nigeria.
The police recovered 82 live ammunitions, 0.9mm, four AK47 rifles, one baretta American pistol, two digital cameras and 16 mobile phones from the suspects.
A source said their arrest followed a tip off to the police by residents of the area who suspected the activities of criminals who were using the place as a hideout and a take off base.
It was learnt that the police stormed the place last Thursday and arrested those smoking indian hemp, gambling, prostitution and others.
P.M.NEWS gathered that when the police searched some rooms rented by the prostitutes, they discovered some arms and live ammunition and valuable items suspected to have been stolen from victims.
Investigations also revealed that the police knew that the place has been existing for long and they thrived because the owners of the Pako brothel used to bribe the police daily.
P.M.NEWS findings revealed that some police officers attached to Rapid Response Squard, RRS, usually trooped to the area to collect bribe on daily basis.
A source disclosed that the officers who usually visited in batches, usually sign a record book provided by the hotel management to collect either N500 or N1,000 per batch.
He said each time they refused to give the police money, they usually threatened the operators of the brothel that their girls will be arrested.
“They always come here to collect money from us. Often times, even RRS from Ikeja come and we give them N500 per group.
“At times, four or six teams come and collect money from us daily.
“Each time we refuse to give them money, they arrest our girls and other customers,” he said.
The source claimed that they do not sell indian hemp, saying that some of the customers who usually come to the place to patronise them smoke marijuana and they have to allow them in order to do their business.
When P.M.NEWS contacted police sources at SARS Ikeja who have now taken over the matter, their leader was not around to comment on the matter.
Sources told P.M.NEWS that SARS have commenced investigation into the matter.
The Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, could not be reached because her phone was switched off.
The residents in the area confirmed the incident and told our correspondents that normal business has since resumed at the place.
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