Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Police in Ogun State, on the early hours of Wednesday, arrested one Babatunde Adegbite, for leading a gang of armed robbers to rob his neighbour, one Okeiyungbo Wale.
The suspect was arrested in alongside one Taiwo Raheem, with whom and four others had invaded Okeiyungbo’s residence located at Oreofe Community, Soyoye area of Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Briefing journalists on the robbery incident at the office of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS, Magbon in the state capital, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspects were apprehended by policemen on a patrol at Oke Ata Federal Housing Estate area at about 4.30a.m, on Wednesday.
According to him, the armed gang numbering six, stormed their victim’s house around 2a.m, shooting sporadically and demanded for his Rover brand car.
He added that following the alarm raised by the residents of the community, the police gave the fleeing armed robbers a hot chase and nabbed two of them, while others escaped with gun shots.
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The PPRO, however, said that it was unbelievable when the victim of the robbery later identified the alleged leader of the gang, Adegbite as a co-landlord in the community. The suspect, Abimbola said, was the person who taught the victim how to drive when he bought the same car about four years ago.
Narrating his experience to our correspondent, Okeiyungbo, said he was still in shock and disbelief that Adegbite was the leader of the armed robbers and confirmed he was the one who taught him driving.
He said that he knew the suspect in the neighborhood as a producer and seller of local insecticide otherwise known as “Otapiapia”.
“He is a landlord in our community, in fact, four years ago when I got this car, he took it upon himself to teach me how to drive it. I am still in great shock! I don’t even know how the whole community will receive this terrible news,” Okeiyungbo stated.
In a related development, a 23 year old, Goodluck Felix Richard, was also arrested for allegedly stealing his cousin’s bus in Ore town, Ondo State.
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According to Oyeyemi, the bus with the registration number GGE 763 W, was stolen in June and sold to one Sadiq Lawal, for N1.2 million to be paid in installments.
Meanwhile, the owner of the bus and the suspect’s uncle, sighted the bus in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and alerted the police at a check point and the driver of the bus was promptly arrested. Goodluck was later arrested by the police through intelligence gathering.