My parents forced me into robbery – Suspect

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While 24-year-old Lekan Jimoh was allegedly preparing for another robbery operation in the Orile area of Lagos State, the police got a tip-off and arrested him.

Jimoh, who hails from Igbokuta, Ikorodu, Lagos, told PUNCH Metro during a parade of criminal suspects by the Lagos State Police Command that he went into robbery because his parents did not assist him in getting the equipment he needed to start his vocation.

The suspect, who claimed to have completed vocational training in carpentry, said his parents did not help him and he therefore resorted to robbery.

Our correspondent gathered that Jimoh was arrested on Wednesday, October 21, by the Orile Police Division through the tracking of his phone.

It was learnt that Jimoh, who was later transferred to the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, was arrested along with one Taiye Oyeleso, an accomplice who allegedly gave five bullets to the robbery suspect.

It was gathered that while the two suspects had been arrested, two other gang members were, however, still at large.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Jimoh said his boss at the carpentry workshop sent him away around March 2015 for failing to buy the required tools.

The suspect confessed to have participated in five robbery operations, where he made at least N30, 000 from each.

He said, “I started learning carpentry after finishing from secondary school. But when I was through, there was no money to buy the tools. My parents did not assist me in any way. Their irresponsibility forced me to go into robbery. My boss also sent me away from work, warning me to keep off until I got the money to commence work.

“It was one of my friends who introduced me to the gang. We were going for operations in the Ajah area. I went for only five operations. I was given about N30,000 after each operation along with victims’ phones.

“I promise not to rob again if I regain my freedom. I am married with a child, and he is just a year and two months old. The police have not been feeding me; I am extremely hungry inside the cell. I have learnt my lesson.”

The other suspect, 42-year-old Oyeleso, said he had given five bullets to Jimoh as former security guards that they were, adding that he was not aware he (Jimoh) had gone into robbery.

He said, “I knew Jimoh when we were both doing security work in the Igando area. I do not sell guns; I do not rob. I was arrested in the Igando area. He had come to me and said he needed five bullets for a security job.

“Since we were together, I did not doubt him. I did not know he was going to rob with the bullets.

So, I gave him some of my boss’ bullets. That was my offence.”

Our correspondent learnt that the police had recovered the bullets while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing gang members.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who said at a briefing that the suspects and others would be charged to court as soon as investigations were over, added that the command was working to rid the state of criminals.

Source: Punch