Attack on Young Shall Grow boss: Another suspect arrested

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a member of the gang that attempted to kidnap the boss of the Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo, two years ago.

He nearly lost his life during the attack in FESTAC Town, Lagos but one of his police escorts was killed in the foiled attempt.  Also shot dead by the police who saved the situation, were two members of the gang.
Two years after the attack, one of the suspects, who has since been on the run, was arrested recently.  The suspect, John (other name withheld) was picked up in company with two other suspects in another kidnapping and armed robbery incidents.
John was exposed by two members of his gang, Aminalechi and Chukwuma, who confessed to the police that, John, a key member of their gang, also participated in the attack on Chief Obianodo incidents.
They claimed that John, an armourer and owner of their operational vehicle, confided in them that he took part in the 2013 incident.
Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, who paraded the suspects in connection with series of armed robbery and kidnap cases in Ogun, Lagos as well as neighbouring countries, has ordered the officer-in-charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, to investigate.
One of the suspects, Chukwuma, who exposed John said: “l was involved in the kidnap of the bosses of Kings Petroleum and Dapson petrol station in Lagos.  John is  my friend.  We live in the same area in Igando. I have participated in two robberies with him. We robbed two filling stations with other gang members.  We were five in number.  Nnamdi, Friday IK and I. We did not succeed in the two filling stations’ robberies because the attendants did not leave money behind. We also robbed an ATM machine attached to an eatery. We got some money there.   It was around 1am that we stole from the ATM in 2013.
“John narrated to me how one of his friends who lived in Ghana connected him to three men for the kidnap of Young Shall Grow Motors CEO in FESTAC area of Lagos. He told me that the first attempt was not successful and they had to organize a second operation.  He told me that in the second operation, they lost two men in a gun battle with the police, but he escaped by the mercy of God.
Another suspect, Animalechi, from Mgbidi in Imo State, who also confessed that he participated in robbery operations said: “John told me that four of them went to kidnap Young Shall Grow Motors’ CEO.  He narrated how the police escort attached to Chief Obianodo started firing at them and how they returned fire, in the process, two of the gang members were shot dead. He told me that the incident happened in 2013 in FESTAC area.”
But John, 35, from Aba, Abia State, who was listening to the interview with his gang members, denied involvement in the attack on Chief Obianodo.
“These guys are trying to make matters complicated for me.  I am in another problem of armed robbery and they are involving me in the kidnap of another big man.  Please, count me out.  I did not tell anybody anything.  Ask me about what I am now facing and leave the Young Shall Grow matter alone.  I am an armed robber.  It was one Okonkwo, who introduced me to it.   He is now dead. I used to keep two guns for him, and from then, I started going out for robberies with his gang.
I have gone out for operations with the gang for about six times. We went for one operation in Republic of Benin.  It was the Cotonou robbery that led to my arrest. I won’t lie to you, I provided the guns and the operational vehicle used for the robbery and l got N7 million as my share. I have never taken part in kidnap before. They are telling lies in this matter.  Please, count me out of kidnap case of Young shall Grow Motors boss.  I am only an armed robber,”  he said.

‘I regretted coming to Lagos’ 
By CHRISTOPHER OJI
An armed robbery suspect, Igbodinma (other names withheld) being investigated for series of cases, has regretted coming to Lagos.
Igbodinma, who was arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command told Crime Watch Today that if he had restricted his criminal activities to Anambra and Delta states, he would not have been in problem with the police.
“I used to operate with my gang in Anambra and Delta states, but when we were displaced by Anambra State police command, our gang members went our separate ways. Anambra State government demolished where we used to hide and deployed policemen on guard so, we had no operational base.  We went our separate ways.
“Some of us went back to our villages.  I went back to my own village, but the place was too boring for me.  I have stolen goats and did petty robbery many years ago.  I thought about it whether I was going backward or moving forward so, I decided to leave the village before I disgrace myself.
“I went to Enugu State, but the place was more boring than my village so, I decided to go to Lagos where I knew is a jungle.  Well, I went to Boundary in Ajegunle where I met some guys.  We met in a motel where I lodged.  From there, we started discussion, and it did not take me time to understand that we are in the same business.
“Well, our leader Ade, told me that we had a job.  I followed them to a church where we robbed members I was not pleased with what we did because, it is wrong to rob people who go to worship God.  But since I was still trying to settle down, I did not complain, as I still followed them to pick-pocket during a political rallies. I was still trying to settle down when I was arrested by the police.  I can’t really say what transpired because, I was searched and a locally-made pistol given to me by Ade was found in my pocket.
“Honestly, if I had known, I would not have come to Lagos.  I would have remained in my state and be operating there and Delta State.  Well, I was warned that Lagos is tough, but I had no alternative.  My greatest undoing was ever coming to Lagos. A police detectives said Igbodinma and his gang have been on the watch list of SARS. He said we were aware that he came into the state with assorted arms and ammunition. He brought the weapons which he intended to use in forming a formidable gang.
He had sold out some to raise money for the new gang he wanted to form.  But what he failed to realise is that Lagos is a no go area for criminals.
The state police spokesman, Mr. Ken Nwosu said the command under the watch of Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti and officer-in-charge of SARS Abba Kyari is no go area.
“Criminals cannot stray top Lagos and think they will not be fished out.  That is why we advise criminals especially armed robbers and kidnappers to repent or leave the state as we will not spare them.

2 arrested for stealing transformers, cables
By NGOZI UWUJARE
The Special Anti-kidnapping Unit of the  Enugu State Police Command has arrested   one Ekuma, aged 30-years and Ogbuji 26, who allegedly specialized in vandalizing  cables and transformers in various communities. They were arrested at Umuchigbo Abarkpa –Nike.
Commissioner of Police, Mr.  Abubakar  Adamu told Crime Watch Today that they were members of a five-man gang.
Adamu said the command has received several complaints and petitions over thefts of  transformers and cables,  noting that he had  to inform the State Anti-Robbery Squad  (SARS) and Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad to go on surveillance.
He said on January 21 2015, SARS operatives had a shoot-out with the gang and two of the suspects were arrested while others fled.
He gave kudos to Umuchigbo indigenes for the assistance given to the policemen and the Anti-kidnapping squad.
CP Adamu explained  further that  the two  suspects  have confessed that they  have vandalized cables and stolen  transformers in about eight communities  including  NYSC  office, GRA  Enugu and other areas.
Ekuma said: “I am from Ishinkwor in Onoko, Ebonyi State.  We are five-man robbery gang.  We specialized in thefts of transformers and cables. We have a place we always sell stolen cables at Mkpor Street market, Abakpa-Nike Enugu.
“I wore gloves when I stole transformers. I never worked in NEPA. I got the ideas on how to repair transformers from people doing the work in our place. We used to go in the  night  to vandalize the transformers and cables and we sold them  at cheap  prices.”
Another suspect, Ogbuji, who hails from Umuaka in Abia State, said, “I was hired as  a driver and I followed them to carry the cables around 5.am. Suddenly, the police came and rounded us up and I have told the police that I didn’t know anything about it.”
CP Adamu said that the police have recovered  some of the  transformers  while some have been vandalized.
He said  the suspects would soon be charged to court.

Fake DSP arrested  in Ogun
By SEGUN OLATUNJI, Abeokuta
The police in Ogun State have arrested a suspected fake Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Makinde Paul.  The 54-year-old suspect who hails from Itoko in Abeokuta South Local Government Area was arrested in Adatan ‎area when he was nabbed as the alleged fake police officer was fully dressed in the uniform and lied to be serving under the state command.
Parading the suspect, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, said Paul was arrested following suspicion by some officers of the command in Adatan area.
Gwandu said Paul had been parading himself as an officer of the command since last year and had allegedly swindled many unsuspecting members of the public.
He noted that Paul failed some of the parade tests conducted for him by a senior officer and could not remember the name of any of his classmates in the police training school.
The suspect confessed to the crime, disclosing that he bought the uniform from a friend who he claimed had died.
Paul said that he had always wanted to be a police officer, having been recruited into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, but was prevented by members of his family, who had vowed never to allow any one of them join the police force.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police said he had handed over the matter to the head of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and possible  prosecution of the fake officer.