Started Robbing At Age Seven – Suspect (Photo)

 

A 20-year-old robbery suspect, Yusuf Lawal,

who was recently arrested by the Lagos

State Police Command, says he started

robbing at the age of seven.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Lawal, aka Eletu,

and another member of his gang, Taju

Alabi, aka Kolo, were arrested in the Ebute

Meta area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that officers of the

Anti-Robbery Squad attached to the State

Department of Criminal Investigation, were

patrolling Kadiri and Kano streets around

4am when they heard a cry for help.

A group of robbers, numbering 19, were

said to be operating in the community at the

time.

The police, while responding to the call for

help, arrested 20-year-old Lawal.

He was said to be dispossessing a victim of

money, phones, and other valuables.

His accomplice, however, stabbed the victim

and fled the scene.

Lawal, who is the only child of his parents,

was taken to the SDCI for interrogation,

during which he led the police to make

other arrests.

The Lagos State indigene said he started

with petty robbery and refused to stop even

after his father had told him to.

The father of one said he turned out badly

due to peer pressure.

He said, “I am the only child of my parents.

I grew up not knowing my mother, who died

when I was still a child. I don’t know what

my father does for a living.

“My father could not correct me because I

always overpowered him whenever he

attempted to do so. I later ran away from

home and started living with a friend in Idi-

Oro, Mushin.

“I started robbing when I was seven after I

quit primary school. My friend, Sule,

introduced me to robbery and we always

went out to rob residents. We stole phones,

money, and other valuables.

“Also, we usually rob very early in the

morning. I will turn a new leaf if the police

can release me.”

There was a mild drama when the second

suspect, Alabi, denied knowing Lawal and

said he had never participated in any of the

robberies.

Lawal, while confronting him with his sin,

said, “On two different occasions, I stole

phones and gave them to you to sell, which

you did and we later shared the money.

“You saw me living large and you asked me

for the secret, and I told you. We have been

doing this together so tell the truth. When

we were robbing people, you should have

known this will be the end.”

However, Alabi, who is 18-years-old,

subsequently owned up, adding that he had

only gone for three operations.

“Yes, he’s my friend and we have been

friends since childhood. We met at Mushin.

I work at a carwash and I am also a bus

conductor. I have only stolen three phones.

It is true that we rob people,” he added.

A police source said the suspects had been

cooperating with the police and giving

useful information.

“They were 19 in number that participated

in the robbery that morning. We were on a

patrol that morning when we received a

distress call. We quickly deployed our men

and Lawal was caught red-handed.

We are on the trail of the other suspects,

and soon, they will be arrested,” he added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Joe

Offor, when contacted for comment,

promised to call back but had yet to do so as

of the time of filing this report.

Source: PunchNg