‘Why we killed policeman, stole his service rifle’

AIG Ibrahim

Operatives of the Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS), Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos State have arrested two suspected armed robbers who allegedly shot a police corporal, Aladejare Adedeji, and went away with his service AK47 rifle.

Other suspects, Rasak Owolabi, 26; Segun Alade, 32; Adekunle Ibrahim, 24; and Salau Tàiwo were said be the ones who received stolen goods from the robbers.

It was learnt that the hoodlums have been terrorizing residents of Ijegun, Isheri, Ikotun, Meran and Salolo area along AIT road, Alagbado, Lagos, before they were arrested at their hideouts.

The suspects were going for an operation on August 14, 2017, where they robbed the policeman who was returning from office and snatched his service gun. They were said to be looking for buyer for the rifle when they were rounded up.

Alade said they tried to sell the policeman’s rifle to raise some money for operations. “We have been working together for about two years now, but I did not follow them on that fateful day they shot the policeman. I used to buy the guns we used for our operations from Klara in the Republic of Benin, and each cost N30,000. I regret my action.”

Owolabi told newsmen that it was poverty that pushed him into robbery, as he needed to survive. The suspect, who claimed to be a driver, said he met the gang about two months ago at Agbara at a beer joint where they were drinking and they became friends.

“I joined them to cater for my children. I have followed them to robbery operations twice. The first time was at Meiran and the second was at Ikotun. That was when we collected a police gun; I got N400,000 and N700,000 from both operations. I don’t usually carry gun.”

Ibrahim and Taiwo, who received the stolen goods from the suspects, claimed they don’t know they were armed robbers.

The Assistant Inspector General, Zone 2 command, Adamu Ibrahim, paraded the suspects at Obada-Oko, Ogun State yesterday. Ibrahim said they were arrested through intelligence at different locations in Ogun.

The AIG, however, listed the items recovered from them to include one AK47 rifle, one cut to size double barrel gun, one single barrel cut to size gun, five live cartridges and some assorted charms.

He called on residents of Ogun and Lagos to be vigilant and always contact the police while in distress.