‘My friend lured me into crime’

A 22-year-old robbery suspect, Michael David, said he was lured into the crime by his friend. Michael was arrested at the weekend for allegedly attacking two persons who were returning home from a party. The suspect was arrested at Isheri-Oshun area of Ikotun by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Command. A local […]

A 22-year-old robbery suspect, Michael David, said he was lured into the crime by his friend. Michael was arrested at the weekend for allegedly attacking two persons who were returning home from a party.

The suspect was arrested at Isheri-Oshun area of Ikotun by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos Command.

A local double barrel pistol and two live cartridges were allegedly recovered from him.

The suspect, who admitted that two of them went for the operation, said his friend, who he identified as Tobi, was the one who lured him into crime.

He said that he never knew that Tobi was into violent crime before.

“I only know that he is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), attached to Ikotun unit. I had gone to him as usual to ask for some money. I was very hungry that day and I never knew what to do. Tobi was away for some time. I set out to look for him on Sallah day. Fortunately, I met him at Jakande Estate, Isolo, drinking with some of his friends. I told him why I was looking for him. He gave me N1,000, with a promise that we will see the next day.

“I met him the next day, and he told me that I will accompany him somewhere. He told me that we will leave for the place very early. At first he did not tell me where we were going to, until we set out that Sunday morning. He gave me an object in a black nylon bag which I later identified as a gun. I was afraid but I did not show it.

“As we approached Isheri-Oshun bus stop, we saw a man and a lady walking towards the bus stop. Tobi attacked the man with a cutlass. He asked me to bring out the gun, which I did. He collected their phones and cash. But as he was rummaging the lady’s bag, we saw an approaching police vehicle. Tobi bolted away as the lady started to shout. I ran after him but I was arrested,” he said.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspect along with 10 other armed robbery suspects at the weekend, said Michael belongs to a notorious gang that had been terrorizing residents of the area.

He said that the suspect would soon be charged to court for armed robbery and illegal possession of arms.