Posted by By DIPO KEHINDE on
Three girls, who dated two notorious armed robbers, have landed in police net after an automatic pistol belonging to the gang leader was found with them in the Ajegunle area of Lagos.
Three girls, who dated two notorious armed robbers, have landed in police net after an automatic pistol belonging to the gang leader was found with them in the Ajegunle area of Lagos.
One of the girls, Adah Okoronta, 20, said she dated the gang leader, named John Otu, for two years during which she tried unsuccessfully to make him change his ways.
"He is my first and only boyfriend," Adah said, adding: "We have been together for two years and I've been advising him to stop stealing. I didn't know he has not changed."
According to the police, Otu had been using the gun, found where Adah kept her clothes, to snatch telephone handsets and other things from his victims. Most times, he would carry out the operation on a motorbike with members of his gang, it was gathered.
After every successful robbery, members of the gang would retire to an hideout where they played snooker, smoked, drank local gin and flirt with prostitutes.
One of their angels, 20-year-old Joy Bassey who described herself as a hustler (an euphemism for prostitute) told Daily Sun that Otu had sex with her three times.
She said: "He used to give me N300 for short time. I don't know who is who. The boys come to play snooker at the hotel and anyone who is tired will come and relax with me."
The third girl in police net, Queen Lucky, 20, told Daily Sun that she dated a member of the gang, called Namsu, for six months. She said the boy, who was working with a woman that sells rug at Alaba market, used to give her between N500 and N700 each time she was to do her hair.
Police say the robbers had been using the girls as covers. The recovered revolver, described as the type used during the World War by soldiers playing Russian roulette, has six chambers with bullets used by the military.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Tolu Police Station, Prince Isaac Obajaye, explained that Otu escaped after a robbery. He was seen entering the girls' place and the police were alerted. When policemen stormed the place, Otu escaped but the gun was recovered when a search was conducted.
He said: "Police relationship with the entire members of the public here is encouraging. The crime control strategy is by way of community policing method adopted, in line with the efforts of the commissioner of police and his regular lecture on crime control with officers, including DPOs and Area commanders.
"Before now, nobody can move freely from 7p.m. without being attacked, but we have the situation under control as we have kept an eye on a notorious black spot called Maracana."
Daily Sun learnt that in 2002, things were so bad in Ajegunle that the officer in charge of the police station was shot dead by a neighbourhood gang.