A suspected member of a two-man armed robbery gang, Atanda Lateef, has revealed how he and the gang leader, identified as Monday, used to target people carrying polythene bags within areas where banks are situated, with the belief that the bags would contain wads of naira notes.

Lateef, aged 33, was on Wednesday arrested by operatives from Iyaganku Division in Oyo State Police Command at Imalefalafia area of Ibadan.

Briefing journalists at the command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, said that the two suspects had been terrorising Ibadan residents, using a red motorcycle with registration number OYO RUW 403 QD until they were caught by police operatives.

The PPRO said that before the two suspects were intercepted, they had robbed and shot a victim at Anfani junction, Ibadan and had escaped before they were sighted at Imalefalafia area.

“In the course of arrest, one of the suspects named Monday (surname unknown), while resisting arrest, made an attempt to disarm a police officer, but the officer overpowered and shot him on the thigh. The other suspect, Lateef, in an attempt to escape with the motorcycle, was apprehended by the people around who descended on him mercilessly,” CSP Osifeso explained, adding that he was rescued from the mob by the police and taken into custody.

Saturday Tribune learnt that the injured suspect died of gunshot wound.

Recovered from the suspects were a short locally-made double-barrel gun, eight live cartridges, cash sum of N202,800, one sunglasses, a black school bag and criminal charms.

Saturday Tribune also gathered that the shot victim of the robbers, who is a teacher, was initially rushed to the State Hospital, Adeoyo, Ring Road, Ibadan but had been taken from there to an undisclosed place for the extraction of pellets buried in his buttock.

Residents of Ibadan, particularly in the areas the gang had operated before, were full of praise for the police command operatives in bringing down one of the suspects.

A resident who spoke under anonymity said that in recent times, the dead suspect had killed a man called Akala at Odo Ona Elewe area. He was also said to have shot to death another victim, an Igede man, at Challenge area about two weeks ago.

“He (the dead suspect) was a ruthless killer. You could see how he struggled to disarm a police operative. He was so vicious. His matter has raised many people’s blood pressure. Thank God he is dead now. Unrepentant ones should follow so that we can enjoy peace,” the resident said.

During interrogation, Lateef, who hails from Ibadan, confessed to following the deceased suspect, Monday, for armed robbery operations.

According to him, “we used to target bank customers with bulky polythene bags which we would suspect of containing large amounts of money. We would ride in front of banks to notice this. We would not stay on a spot so as not to be easily detected. We used to patrol around banks.

“We would watch out for anyone carrying a polythene bag out of a bank. We usually knew people with money because of the shape of the polythene bag.

“I carried out robbery operations with Monday about six times since I joined him. We usually patrolled on roads along banks at about 1 to 2 p.m. It was Monday who knew the shape of polythene bags with money. Whenever he saw one, he would direct me to follow the person carrying it. We would then block the victim whether he’s on a bike or in a tricycle, and Monday would point his double-barrel gun at him. If the okada rider refused to stop, Monday would then shoot, and we would quickly escape from the scene with the bag of money. For the two months that I was with Monday, we were operating at Oke Ado-Challenge axis.”

On how he formed a gang with Monday, Lateef said: “Before meeting my gang leader, Monday, I used to hawk bottled water for sale in the traffic. I started riding a motorcycle owned by the gang leader when I knew him about two months ago at a marijuana joint at Wema area, Iwo Road, where we used to smoke. I was introduced to him by one Rasheed who owned the hemp joint.

“Rasheed knew that Monday was an armed robber, and he wanted me to be riding the operational bike while Monday would attack our target. Monday told me that the guy working with him before absconded with his money, threatening to kill him if he should see him.”

When asked of the amount that had been collected from victims since he started robbery operations with Monday, Lateef said: “He (Monday) was my boss. Whenever we got back to Iwo Road, he would just open the bag, count some naira notes and hand them out to me. I got between N30,000 and N40,000 from him. He would then warn me that he must never hear me telling anyone about the operations.”

Lateef stated that his gang’s cup of crime became full when police operatives swooped on them on Wednesday, September 3.

According to the suspect, “we got our latest victim at Challenge area on Wednesday. When we blocked the victim and he was not ready to surrender the bag, Monday shot him. After getting the bag, we escaped as usual, but our motorcycle broke down. We were attending to it when police operatives came. I believe they had been informed of our deed, and they were scouting round until they got us.

“When I raised my head from where I crouched while repairing the bike, I saw Monday struggling with the police. He had his gun with him. That was how he was shot.

“I know I have made mistakes, but it was Monday who forced me into it. Anytime he came for me to go on operation with him, he would force me even if I told him I didn’t want to go. I never knew where he lived. We were only meeting at the hemp joint. I’ve never had any involvement with the police. This is my first time.”

The suspect who said that his parents were dead, disclosed that he had no home but was squatting with friends, including the hemp seller, Rasheed. “Even, Rasheed ran away with my money that I was saving, totalling N300,000, which I made from the robbery operations. He was no longer at the hemp joint,” the suspect disclosed.

Expressing regrets, the suspect said that he had seen that crime and illicit drugs do not pay. He advised individuals not to allow criminals or those with evil intent to destroy their lives, saying that they should be avoided at all costs.

He made a vow: “If God saves me from death, even if I end up in prison, I will come out reformed. I will be reporting at police stations every day to let them know that I have repented.” (Saturday Tribune, but headline rejigged)

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