Posted by By Wole Mosadomi, Minna on
THE Niger State Police Command headquarters on Dutsen Kura, Minna was turned into a tourist centre of sort last week when seven suspected armed robbers were paraded before journalists and the general public.
THE Niger State Police Command headquarters on Dutsen Kura, Minna was turned into a tourist centre of sort last week when seven suspected armed robbers were paraded before journalists and the general public.
For sure, it was not the first time that armed robbery suspects were paraded at the same venue. But last week's exercise was a 'special occasion" as it drew huge attendance of the public more than ever before.
What had made it more mind-blowing was the message which had earlier filtered into the nooks and crannies of the town that a final year student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna was among the suspects to be displayed.
Chidi Jackson is a final year civil engineering student of FUT, Minna. In fact, he ought to have graduated two years ago, that is in 2005. Unfortunately, certain circumstances ensured that he remained in school till now.
His ambition in life has always to become a renowned civil engineer and this dream he pursued right from his secondary school days. But all that may have come to nought as he was allegedly caught in a robbery act some few weeks ago.
That single incident brought the roof down on Jackson who was already looking up to the future with great hopes and dreams, having less than one year to graduate. He had gone through the rough times of school and with only few months to bid farewell to the campus, he was attracted to the other side of the world and wanted to get rich quick. And even this he could not accomplish.
Luck ran out of him when he attempted to rob one of his lecturers, Abdullahi Mohammed who, incidentally, is in his department. Two others residents in the same compound with the lecturer were also said to have been robbed by the student.
However, as the robbery was going on, the police authorities were alerted and they stormed the venue of the robbery immediately and got Chidi arrested. A pistol with eleven rounds of ammunition was found on him along with other valuables already looted from his victims. Also, the sum of N8,585 and a Nokia handset were recovered from him.
But what would just drive a final year student into robbery? Looking apparently and understandably sober this time around, Chidi lamented ever indulging in such an act, his first time, he claimed.
'I went into this act out of frustration and wickedness of some of my lecturers in school," he said in a brief chat with Saturday Vanguard. 'I was supposed to have graduated from the school two years ago, that's in 2005..
'I had carry-over in some of my courses and even as I speak to you, I am yet to make the papers. I became very frustrated. In fact, it was worse for me because I still don't think I should have failed the papers due to my performances in them. The last time I attempted it, I was failed by the lecturer and knowing fully well that I did my best, I became so frustrated that I didn't know what else to do. Look at what these men have done to me," Jackson lamented.
With his head bowed, he could not be persuaded to talk any further. He had come close to tears and kept shaking his head rather dejectedly. However, it is yet unclear whether the lecturer he went to rob was one of those who he claimed, had been 'frustrating" him in the campus.
Niger State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Oliver Osuchukwu while addressing journalists said the suspect is now with the State CID for further interrogation and other useful information.
Just last year, seven students of the same university (FUT) were paraded by the State Police Command before for being allegedly involved in armed robberies. They were said to have graduated from being members of a secret cult on campus to full-fledged armed robbers.
And merely few weeks ago, the university authority recalled thirty of its expelled students to appear before the Appeal Committee for belonging to 'unregistered associations".
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Hamman Tukur Sa'ad had on different fora warned students to shun cultism or any other secret society. He warned that nobody would be spared if caught romancing with any unregistered association.
On this day, Chidi Jackson was, however, not the only suspect paraded by the police. Joseph Ani, Ogbonna Michael, Monday Ogbu and Francis Ezeanu were also nabbed and paraded by the State Police Command. .
Though not students, the suspects were arrested in Lagos in a stolen Jeep snatched from one Mr. Sunday Okeke in Minna, Niger State. The vehicle was snatched from its owner as he was entering his residence.
Like Jackson the student-robber, luck deserted the quartet in far-away Ladipo, Lagos, as the suspects were about driving off in the stolen jeep. They were rounded up by the police and brought back to Minna for interrogation. They were said to have made useful statements.