Police operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have nabbed three university graduates, among other armed robbery suspects for allegedly robbing and snatching expensive vehicles across Nigeria.
The trio graduate suspects include Titus Johana,31, Jacob Ali, 28, and Richard Augustine, 30.
Other suspected robbers are Manven Bali, 40; Cheikube Emeka, 32, and Ejike Chukwuemeka, 37, who also confessed to have snatched a CRV belonging to an employee of Channels Television, Mrs. Adeola Adediran, stolen on January 17, in the Isheri area of Ogun State.
The police also arrested one Nura Mohammed, 33, said to be an alleged receiver of stolen vehicles.
The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad on February 2, while two locally-made double-barrel guns, four live cartridges and four stolen cars were also recovered from them.
One of the suspects, Johana, who graduated from a university in Nasarawa State in 2012, who spoke up about their gang operation said, “I studied Political Science in the institution. I am married with a child. I graduated in 2012, and also had my National Youth Service Corps programme in Kwara State.
“While searching for jobs, I met a man who said if I could be bringing stolen cars to him, there were ready buyers who would help dispose them. The man introduced me to Alhaji Nura.
“We used to deliver the stolen vehicles to the man. I had given him two vehicles ─ a Toyota Camry and a Corolla. He gave us N120, 000 to share in the first deal, but he has yet to pay for the second. My wife does not know that I rob. She thinks I am still a job seeker.”
A second suspect, Ali, an English language graduate said, “Titus introduced me to robbery. I finished from the university in November 2014, and I am still single. The first operation I went for was in 2015, they gave me N30, 000. I was looking for money to pay my house rents.”
The alleged receiver, Mohammed, said he had received six stolen vehicles since he met the gang, and usually took the cars to Niger and Chad to dispose.
He said, “It is true that they brought the vehicle stolen from the Channels TV employee to me. But we have not even bargained the price before the police arrested me. The gang has brought vehicles to me on two occasions.
“I bought the first for N800,000 and sold it for N950,000.
“The second one was bought for N700,000 and it was sold for N800,000. In all, I have been given about six stolen vehicles.
“I was a cow dealer. I kill and sold cows. It was just last year that the gang started giving me stolen vehicles. I sold the vehicles to Chad, Niger where I have car dealers. I make about N200, 000 per deal. The dealers too know that I bring stolen cars.”
While parading the gang, the Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, said, “When information was received about their activities, I directed the SARS commander, Abba Kyari, to go after the suspects.
“The arrest of the alleged receiver in Kano led to the arrest of the three armed robbers who are all graduates. Further investigations are ongoing on the matter.”
