suspected members of a trans-border
robbery gang arrested by the Lagos State
Police Command last week. The Imo State-
born suspect who claimed to be married to a
Benin Republic-based Togolese, gave a
startling confession on the gang’s operation
in Benin and Mali, during an exclusive
interview with Crime Guard.
Chineye who admitted to be the gang’s
informant, revealed that his union with his
wife, made it easy for him to study the terrain
in Cotonou, Benin Republic, thereby
facilitating the gang’s entry into the country.
Members of his gang reportedly stormed a
micro finance bank in Porto Novo, Benin
Republic, last November, from where they
carted away the equivalent of N100 million.
Chineye who gave his operational name as
Ishola, said he masterminded the robbery
operation at the financial institute, adding
that it took him two days to study the terrain
before inviting other members of the gang
over. He further told Crime Guard that the
gang was planning to extend its operations
to Togo when they were arrested.
I go for confession after each operation
The father of one who was full of remorse
said that his pastor and members of his
church, whose name he gave as Christ
Ascension Church, Benin Republic branch,
would be shocked beyond imagination when
news of his arrest reach them.
According to him: “ I am a dedicated church
worker. Nobody knew I was an armed
robber. Every time I returned from any
operation, my conscience would prick me.
Thereafter, I would go to church for
confession but would never disclose the
exact sin I committed.
My wife didn’t know I was a robber either.
This is because I stay in Benin Republic
where she is permanently based for two
months, before returning to Nigeria, where
she believed I was working. I usually visited
Benin Republic when we wanted to rob and
would leave after investing my loot. This is
to allow me get hints on the outcome of the
operation, in terms of Police investigation.”
Frustration led me into robbery
At a point, he burst into tears, begging for
his wife’s forgiveness when she hears about
his involvement in crime. He stated that he
never envisaged to go into robbery but that
frustration forced him into it.
“It all started after my apprenticeship in a
pharmaceutical store, back in Owerri, the Imo
state capital. My master refused to pay me
off. Rather, he claimed that the money he
ought to have settled me with was spent on
the treatment of my ailing brother few
months back. I left in anger and worked as a
bus conductor until the engine of the bus got
knocked.
I was idle for some months, during which I
met my wife who was visiting Nigeria for the
first time. I went to Benin Republic with her,
where I met some friends who introduced me
into robbery. I started by breaking into
peoples’ apartments, but it was not lucrative
because at times, I won’t get anything from
the houses”.
I graduated into Trans- border robbery
In his desperation to eke a living, he
returned back to Nigeria last year, where he
reportedly met members of another robbery
gang. He confessed that he went on
operation twice with the new gang but only
got between N20,000 and N50,000 , an
amount he said was not enough to meet his
needs.
Continuing, he said : “During one of our
meetings, I told my members that we should
step up by going to operate in Benin
Republic, since their Police were not as
effective as ours. The first operation was in a
filling station in Benin Republic. It took me
two days to survey the place before I invited
members of the gang.
At the end of the operation, we lodged in a
hotel there for two days, shared the loot
before others left,while I stayed back. Three
weeks later, as I was driving around Porto
Novo, I saw a micro-finance bank. I studied
the terrain that day and came back the next
day to continue. I observed that policemen
were not stationed there and that only
unarmed private guards were there.
Quickly, I came to Nigeria to inform my
members and left back for Benin Republic.
Three days later, we struck at the bank and
made away with N100 million equivalent.
During operation, we don’t use our real
names. For instance, my operational name is
Ishola. We have names like Mensah, Koffi,
Messiah, master, etc. This is to give our
victims the impression that we were from
Benin Republic.
Premonition
“ Joining a robbery gang is the worst mistake
of my life. Had I known, I would have
listened to my wife.
Three days before I was nabbed, she told me
she dreamed that I was arrested alongside
other people for robbery and that I was killed
in the process. Since then, she has been
fasting and praying against sudden death.
But I assured her all was well and that I was
not into any dirty deal. If I had known I
would have returned to Benin Republic ,
instead of remaining here in Nigeria.”
I lost everything
Another suspected member of the gang,
Ifeanacho Igwe (35), told Crime Guard that
he was forced into robbery by one Nnamdi,
whom he said invited him over after he
requested financial assistance from him. The
invitation according to Igwe, turned out to be
his worst nightmare.
According to him: “ As a commercial
motorcyclist, Nnamdi invited me to take him
to a location, promising to give me some
money I earlier requested for.
That was in 2011 But on reaching the
location at Alakija bus-stop, it turned out to
be a robbery operation scene. I couldn’t turn
back because it was late and I was afraid
they could kill me. I had no option than to
play along.
They succeeded in collecting N85 million
from a victim and at the end I got N25
million. Since then, I cut off totally from
them.
I lost everything I used that money on; I
bought a new truck for N14 million and a
commercial bus , including a sports utility
vehicle for my personal use. I used the rest
to renovate my mother’s house and support
my siblings’ education.
Since that robbery operation my entire life
has gone from bad to worse. I gave the truck
out to a driver to use for transportation
purpose.
While on a business trip to the eastern part
of the country, it rammed over someone
before it somersaulted into a river, with
goods worth several millions of naira. As if
that was not enough, I am in the police net
for a crime committed four years ago. My
past sins have caught up with me,” he stated
in an emotion- laden voice.
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