A teenager, Farouk, who decided to threaten his biological elder sister with a knife in order to get money from her, has spoken on why he carried out the act.

According to him, he believed that his sister, who had not been of financial help to him, had enough to spare but just decided not to help.

Farouk, aged 17, was arrested with his accomplice, Taofeek (surname withheld), also aged 17, by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly conspiring to rob a woman (name withheld) who happened to be Farouk‘s biological sister.

The police spokeswoman in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola, who, on behalf of the police commissioner, Kehinde Longe, briefed journalists on the suspects’ arrest, said that Farouk and his friend, Taofeek, went to his sister’s residence at about 4:30am on Children’s Day, May 27.

He reportedly targeted his sister for robbery, but in the course of the operation, the sister was said to have raised alarm, which attracted neighbours.

Though the two teenagers attempted an escape from the scene, one of them, Taofeek, was apprehended. This, subsequently, led to the arrest of Farouk, the mastermind.

The PPRO stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the completion of investigation.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Farouk, who said he hailed from Osogbo, narrated his story thus: “ I live in our family house. My father is dead and I’m not living with my mother. We are five children. We are all struggling for survival. I stopped at JSS2 to learn shoe making.

“It is true that I went to my sister’s house with knife to attack her. She lives at Oke Osun and is 31 years old. I’m the last born and she’s the second born.

“I’ve been seeking financial help from her for some time but she refused to help, and I knew she had money but didn’t want to give me.

“That was why my friend and I went to her house to frighten her. We went to her house with face masks. I held a knife and threatened to use it on her if she refused to give us money.

“Neighbours saw us when we went to her and were suspicious. My sister didn’t know I was the one. She was telling us that she had no money. By the time we looked through the window, we saw many people. We quickly went outside and fled, but my friend was caught. I had to go the following day to show myself.”

His friend, Taofeek, also from Osogbo, explained his side thus: “Farouk has been my friend for a long time. We started learning shoe making in the same place. At a time, I offended my boss and Taofeek advised me to cut grass in his house so that he would forgive me of my wrongdoing.

“As I was cutting the grass, Farouk, who was with me, brought the idea of going to his sister’s house to rob her and use the money to open a shop as cobblers. That was what led to this problem.

“I have never tried such a thing in my life, if not for my friend’s advice.” (Nigerian Tribune: Text, Excluding Headline)

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