Three university graduates, who are among suspected armed robbers arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, have said they robbed and snatched expensive vehicles in different parts of the country.The graduate suspects are 31-year-old Titus Johana, 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.
PUNCH Metro learnt that 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.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Johana, who said he finished from a university in Nasarawa State in 2012, explained that his gang had snatched two vehicles and sold them to Mohammed who gave them N120,000 for the deals.
He 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.”
Also, Ali, who said he was a graduate of English Language from the same institution, added that he joined the gang because he needed money to meet his domestic needs.
He 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.”
The Commissioner of Police, Cornelius Aderanti, who paraded the gang, said the police were making further investigations on the matter.
He said, “When information was recieved 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.”
