Posted by By CHRISTOPHER OJI and MATTHEW DIKE on
Three suspected armed robbers, who allegedly connived to rob a man who was planning to embark on a business trip abroad, are now regretting their action at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where they are being detained.
Three suspected armed robbers, who allegedly connived to rob a man who was planning to embark on a business trip abroad, are now regretting their action at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where they are being detained.
Emeka Eze, Emeka Onyebuchi and Osas were arrested at Ojuelegba area of Lagos, recently as they were about to rob their alleged victim at gun point. One of the members of the gang, simply identified as Jerry, is said to be at large.
Eze, who claimed to be the leader of the gang also confessed being involved in car snatching business.
According to Eze, it was his friend, Samson, the arrowhead, who invited members of the gang to rob his brother preparing to travel abroad.
Eze said: "They arrested me around Moshalashi area of Ojuelegba. A friend told me that his brother wanted to travel abroad. He said his brother had withdrawn large sum of money for the trip."
Eze claimed he bought the the two pistols and eight ammunition found on him from a man he identified as Abuchi, who lives in Aba. He denied using the guns during the car snatching operations, claiming that a mock gun, which he carved with stick and wrapped with black rubber, used the day he was arrested.
The suspect revealed that he was involved in the snatching of a BMW, Audi and Toyota Camry cars, respectively, at Ijebu Ode.
He also disclosed that he was paid N90, 000 for the first car they snatched.
He also revealed how he met Onyebuchi on the day of the abortive robbery at Ojuelegba.
Explaining how he was lured into robbery business, Onyebuchi pointed fingers at Jerry, who he said assured him that he would make not less than N100, 000 per robbery operation.
Jerry, he said, disappeared after he was arrested and had refused to pick his calls. He recalled how he and two others, including Jerry and Baba Ogbo, snatched cars.
"We left Lagos to Ijebu Ode to snatch vehicles. We went with a stick, carved a gun form; me and other two people, including Baba Ogbo. We do not have target for the kind of model of cars we wanted to snatch. First time, we snatched BMW," Eze confessed.
Onyebuchi, 27, who claimed to be a native of Umuahia, said he had no job. Attempting to exonerate himself from the crime, Onyebuchi said he was with his friend, Osas, when Eze invited the latter who he accompanied.
He claimed not to be aware that they were invited to take part in robbery.
Eze claimed he only waylaid somebody who was owing him some money.
He explained that Osas was hospitalized because of bullet wound he sustained from the police, as he was trying to escape.
Chike Osu, 32, on the other hand, claimed to be a commercial motorcyclist, who knew nothing about the robbery for which he was arrested.
Osu claimed Eze hired his services at Ojuelegba to take him to Ikeja and bring him back to Ojuelegba. He said he was waiting for Eze when police rounded them up.
Osu said: "I'm not a robber. I have not robbed in my life. I only carried this man twice to Ikeja and back to Ojuelegba. Please, I'm not a robber," he pleaded.