I only robbed Yahoo boys, not innocent people – Suspect

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti -Robbery Squad , Adeniji- Adele Annex, have busted a two -man robbery syndicate terrorising Idimu , Ikotun and Igando areas of Lagos State .
The suspects – Sunkanmi Emmanuel , aka Federal , 30 and 28 – year – old Ahmed Agunbiade , aka Omojoyibo – were arrested last week in the Igando area while they were reportedly going for a robbery operation .

It was learnt that the suspects specialised in robbing club goers of their belongings , including motorcycles in the communities .
One Dotun Ogunsanya , aka Dotman , was also arrested for buying stolen phones and motorcycles from the syndicate while a commercial motorcycle rider , Nurudeen Agbeyewo , was nabbed for allegedly taking Federal and Omojoyinbo for operations .

City Round gathered that a team of detectives swooped on the gang following complaints to the officer -in – charge of FSARS , Adeniji, DCP Ibrahim Kaoje .

It was gathered that the team , led by one SP Olaniyi Festus , also tracked down two members of a gang , Segun Okiande and Olude Usman , that specialised in burglary in the Igando area .

The police said 15 motorcycles , three cut -to – size guns , cartridges and a plasma television , were recovered from the robbery suspects .

“ Emmanuel , aka Federal lives at Totowu , Ogun State while Omojoyibo resides in Igando , Lagos State . A river separates the two communities . “ They specialised in robbing people at night at gunpoint . Three guns were recovered from them . They have a standby motorcyclist who takes them to locations where they carry out their operations . The two prime suspects ( Federal and Omojoyibo ) were traced to a hotel at Totowu . A motorcycle was recovered from them .

“ Ogunsanya , aka Dotman is the major receiver . There are other suspects at large who sold stolen items to him . Federal is a member of Eye Cult . They would go to clubs and hotels and rob visitors there while they were leaving. They terrorise Idimu , Igando and Ikotun areas of the state , ” a police source said .

In an interview with our correspondent earlier in the week , Federal , a native of Ondo State, admitted to being a robber and a cult member .

The 30 -year – old father of five , however , said his targets were Internet fraudsters ( popularly known as Yahoo boys ) , claiming that he did not rob innocent people .

He said , “ I came to Lagos in 1998 . I was an apprentice mechanic . In 2003 , the government demolished my boss ’ shop and he went back to his village . I became a commercial motorcyclist . After some time , it was seized by the police . I joined Eye confraternity in 2015 . Our leader bought a gun for me . He is dead now .

“ I started using the gun to rob . I would go to clubs on Fridays and mingle with Yahoo boys who spent lavishly there . As they were leaving , I would follow them . On getting to a deserted place , I would point the gun at them and collect their money and phones .

“ I usually freed Eye cult members among them once they told me they did not have money . I have collected about six phones and sold them to Dotman . I got to him at Totowu area , where I live . I don’ t rob innocent people . It is Yahoo boys who have money that I rob . I use the money I get to take care of my family . I have five children from two wives . ”
Federal also confessed to have stolen six motorcycles , identifying Omojoyibo as his accomplice .

The motorcycles , our correspondent learnt, were parked by their owners around a mosque bordering Igando and Totowu , while they boarded boats to Totowu .

Federal said they took away the bikes before the owners returned to the spot .

He added , “ We have sold five motorcycles to Dotman . We sold each for N 30 , 000 . I also stole one at a site.

Omojoyibo and I were going to a club in Igando on a Friday when the police arrested me but he escaped . They found ammunition on me . We were not going to rob that night . I took them to my house where I kept my gun . The police later tracked down Omojoyibo and Dotman . ”

Omojoyibo , 28 , who hails from Ilorin , Kwara State , said he was a cobbler and commercial motorcyclist , adding that he took to robbery in 2017 after his motorcycle was seized by the police for plying highway .

“ While I was looking for other means , I met Federal in Igando . We lived in the same area before he relocated to Totowu . He told me how he robbed Yahoo boys in hotels and clubs and we started working together. I also brought the idea of stealing motorcycles parked at the back of the mosque between Igando and Totowu . I have a wife and two children . The police should have mercy on me , ” he added .

Dotman , a 31 -year – old father of two from Remo , Ogun State, said he started buying stolen items after his inability to get enough capital to run his phone accessory shop in Totowu .

He said , “ I finished my National Diploma in 2008 . I have a phone accessory shop . My father is in the United Kingdom . He has been there for 17 years . I begged him to give me the capital to run the business properly, but he did not honour my request . I decided to be buying motorcycles and phones from Federal and Omojoyibo . I buy motorcycles for N 30 , 000 each and sell it for N 35 , 000 . I have bought nine motorcycles from them . The police have recovered three of the motorcycles from me . I also bought six phones from them . ”

The commercial motorcyclist , Agbeyewo , accused of taking the robbers to locations where they robbed people , denied the allegations , claiming that he only rented out his motorcycle to them on the grounds that it would be used for commercial purposes .

The 19 – year -old said , “ I did not know anything about this case . I only rented out my machine to Federal and Omojoyinbo . I am the owner of the motorcycle . I did not know they used it for robbery . They told me they wanted to use it for commercial purposes . ”

One of the suspected burglars , Okinade, 20 , said he only operated within his neighbourhood on Isuti Road, Igando .

He stated , “ I finished from secondary school two years ago . It was a friend called Gatuso who introduced me to burglary. We usually tore window nets at night and stole whatever items we could lay our hands on .

“ We later met Usman and we went for an operation in a church together. We stole a fan and a generator in the church. There was also a time I burgled my father ’ s tenant ’ s room . I stole the man ’ s Plasma TV. ”

Usman , 23 , explained that he usually worked with one Kenny whom he knew at a shop where he was learning tailoring .
The secondary school leaver said he and Kenny stole a motorcycle , but the police arrested him ( Usman ) with it .

“ I took the motorcycle to my family house . Unfortunately , somebody saw it and alerted the owner. I was arrested and charged to court . I spent a month in Kirikiri Prison before I was released .

“ My father locked me up so that I would not be able to go out at night . A few weeks ago , at night , I told my mummy that I wanted to urinate . She opened the door for me and I escaped . I went to steal a generator. As I wanted to carry it , its owner attacked me with a machete . I sustained injuries . It was Segun ( Okinade) who mentioned my name to the police . ”

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