‘We killed policemen because we needed their guns’

The suspects

A new trend seems to be unfolding in Lagos State as robbers now kill security operatives for the sole purpose of snatching their guns which are later used in carrying out robberies.

The revelation came to the fore as the Lagos State Police Command arrested an eight-man robbery gang.

According to Police authorities, the suspects, Ife Olubaba, Saheed Wasiu, Segun Idowu, Wasiu Rafiu,

Odelade Kabiru, Waliu Sonni, Taiwo Obafunsho and Taiye Agege; killed policemen and snatched their rifles.

PUNCH Metro learnt that after the robbery, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad commenced investigations after which the suspects were arrested in different parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, told journalists that one of the suspects, Olubaba, was a close associate of robbery kingpin, Abiodun Ogunjobi aka Godogodo.

Manko said, "On October 9, 2013, a group of armed robbers shot  policemen attached to Iju Police Station and snatched  two rifles. On November 3, 2013, around 3am, as a follow up on the incident, SARS men launched a man hunt and eight of the robbers were arrested in Lagos and Ogun states.

"Two AK-47 rifles with two AK-47 magazines fully loaded, one automatic pump action gun, four locally made pistols and 135 live cartridges were recovered around Egbeda area of Lagos along with their operational vehicle, one Hyundai Tucson with registration number MUS350GB.

"During the exchange of gunfire between the robbers and SARS operatives, Taiye Agege, who is the second in command to the gang, was fatally wounded."

The leader of the gang, Olubaba, told our correspondent that it was Agege that advised him to kill the policemen. He said they snatched the guns because the policemen's guns were superior to theirs.

He said, "It is Taiye (Agege) that is the leader of the gang, I am only the deputy. We were on our way to a robbery operation in Iju when Taiye said we should kill the policemen and collect their guns. He said the policemen's guns were superior to ours. He then ordered the driver to reverse the vehicle to where the policemen were stationed.

"He gave me a pump action rifle and he held his own pistol and alighted from the vehicle and we opened fire on the policemen. We killed the policemen for their guns. We quickly snatched their guns and drove off.

Obafunsho, who is a female suspect, said she never participated in any robbery but Olubaba usually gave her money.

She said, "I have never followed them for any robbery operation, I sell frozen foodstuff in Mushin and I have three children. Olubaba usually gives me money once in a while but it wasn't until I was arrested that I knew they were robbers."