Ogun’s catalogue of armed robbery

The month of November, would remain indelible in the people’s memory for a long time. It was a month the men of the underworld practically left behind tales of woes and sorrows in the homes of their victims. From Ijebu to Remo, Egba and Yewa/Awori all the four zones of the state had a sour […]

The month of November, would remain indelible in the people’s memory for a long time. It was a month the men of the underworld practically left behind tales of woes and sorrows in the homes of their victims.

From Ijebu to Remo, Egba and Yewa/Awori all the four zones of the state had a sour taste of killings, maiming and lootings of monies. The dastardly acts of the dare-devils do not spare the students, artisans, bankers, traders, top political class and even the members of the fourth estate of the realm.

It was one month also, that the State Police command would wish never not to relieve. A chronicle of the month’s robbery incidents (those that got media attention) indicated that the last Eid-el- Kabir celebration ushered the robbers into the region.

On November 10, the seeming lull in the robbery attack in Ijebu area gave way as four persons were confirmed dead from at least six people with seriously injured as stray bullets that hit them during the robbery attack on the banks situated in the premises of the Permanent Site of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu North local government area of Ogun State.

The robbers according to eyewitness account raided five banks out of the ten operating on the campus. The affected banks are Skye Bank, FCMB, Oceanic, Intercontinental and GTBank. The robbers came with arms and ammunitions including rockets and dynamites which they used to shatter the entrance of the banks to gain entrance into the banking halls where they as they carted away undisclosed sums of money running to billions of naira.

On Friday, November 18, the former deputy governor, Alhaja Salmot Badru was the next victim. She was attacked by a gang at her GRA Ibara Abeokuta residence.

The relative peace of Sagamu in Ogun state was on Thursday, November 24 disrupted as a gang of armed robbers and the local vigillanted group clashed leaving at least two persons including a Policeman dead and about five others injured. The robbers had reportedly stormed the Sabo area of Akarigbo road to rob commercial banks, but a stiff resistance led to the face-off, which paralyzed activities for several hours in the town.

A resident, Taiwo Joseph told newsmen that the robbers were daring in their operations which lasted about 30 minutes, a development “that brought panic to Sagamu. Their gunshots were deafening and it was as if Sagamu was under siege. We learned they escaped through Iperu/Ibadan road with little or no resistance from the Police.”

On November 29 a gang of armed robbers struck at the Ifo branch of WEMA bank Nigeria Plc and carted away undisclosed sums of money. The incident was said to have occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday, when a night watchman was reportedly tied with rope by the daredevil robbers who looted the bank.

But, the tide changed this month, with series of heart-warming arrests and efforts by the state government to actually stem the crimes at all levels. On December 13, the Police paraded six members of the armed gang that robbed banks in Sagamu.

The suspects were among the 17 others paraded by the Command at the Police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

The state police Commissioner,Nicholas Nkedeme, told newsmen that his men apprehended members of  the 35-man gang of  armed robbers that unleashed terror on  Sagamu.  According to Nkedeme, who also paraded other suspected murders, kidnappers, impersonators and cultists, one Rasheed Ganiyu was arrested in possession of one million, five hundred and fifty one thousand naira (N1,551,000) with his friend identified as  Tajudeen Alase by patrol team in Ogere.

The suspects, according to the police boss, were caught with one Toyota Bus carrying inscription of Lagos state Polytechnic bearing number plate LA 65 A45, two empty magazines, one live G3 ammunition, one expended ammunition, one Sienna Le Car marked LT 671 EKY and one kit containing the alleged stolen money.

However, one of the robbery suspects, Rashhed Ganiyu denied his involvement in the robbery attacks, claiming that, he was arrested in error.

He confirmed that he was caught with a kit that contained the huge money with the wrappers bearing the inscription of some of the banks robbed in Sagamu, saying that, he saw the container somewhere and stole it, not knowing it was a stolen kit.

The bus used by the gang during the operation was also paraded and it clearly showed that the report saying the robbers changed a flat tyre was observed. The bus had the Lagos Polytechnic inscription boldly written on it.

Also, on December 20, the Ogun State Vigilante Group arrested a suspected kingpin and two others for alleged involvement in robbery activities in recent times in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The Commander of the Vigilante Group, Major Femi Bisiriyu (rtd) while briefing newsmen in Abeokuta stated that the robbers were responsible for various bank robberies in the state, especially in Abeokuta and metropolis.

Bisiriyu narrated that, the suspects were apprehended at Isabo in the state capital following a tip-off received from the group intelligence report. He said the gang leader who was identified as Oluwole Fasuru otherwise known as Keru has been terrorizing the state capital in the last two months, saying his men have been working closely with the police to apprehend the robbers.

“Some past two months, we have been on the trail of these criminals and we thank God with the support of the good citizens of Ogun State we were able to apprehend them. “I want to tell you that they are responsible for all the robbery incidents in the state and we will hand them over to the police”.

He said though, some of them were arrested and charged to court earlier this year, but were later discharged for no criminal offence, saying that the group would ensure that justice is upheld this time around. Other members of the arrested robbery gang are; Wasiu Raheem and Olojede Adeola.

On Thursday, the state government formally inaugurated it’s State Security Trust Fund and Operation Mesa (OPS- MESA).The governor in his address emphasized that in any given society, the primary purpose of Government is the security of lives and property of the citizenry.

“Without security, it will be hazardous for people to venture out in search of their livelihood but when this basic need is attained, people can conveniently set out to meet other needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and even self-actualisation. Therefore, security is paramount and pre-eminent in governance.

“It is for this reason that the constitution of our Country in Section 14 Sub Section 2(b) states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Therefore, to ensure effective security of lives and property in our dear State, we have decided to set up Ogun State Security Trust Fund whose Board of Trustees, comprises eminent personalities with proven track records in our society, is being inaugurated today.”

The essence of the Fund, Amosun explained, “is to support the government in tackling all types of security challenges in our State through sourcing of resources and efficiently deploying such resources to achieve the objective of a safe and secure environment.

As part of our security initiatives, we are glad the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR has approved the Joint Military / Police Task Force for the State. As a back-up to the Joint Military / Police Patrol, we have decided to set up a complementary Outfit referred to as “Quick Respond Squad” (QRS). This Outfit is to complement the effort of the Nigeria Police and to work in tandem with the Joint Military / Police Patrol team in order to eradicate crime in our state.

“Also, the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Hafiz Ringim, recently deployed additional 262 men of the Mobile Police Force to the State.

To equip members of the Joint Task Force, we have procured Sixty (60) Double Cabin Patrol Vans to be used as operational vehicles.

These vehicles have been fitted with sophisticated communication gadgets that will facilitate easy communication between the operational base of the team and other points as well as with the control rooms of all Security agencies.  In addition, the State Government has ordered ten (10) Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the team.  The APCs are expected to arrive the State any moment from now.

He added that “as a responsible and responsive Government, the socio-economic well-being of our people is paramount to us. Therefore, for the people to go about their lawful and legitimate activities without fear, molestation or threat to their lives and property, we have ensured adequate arrangements and facilities to guarantee a secure environment. We are determined to ensure that individuals and groups maximize their potentials while investors are assured that their investment is safe.

“To this end, the Ogun State Security Trust Fund will have the following terms of reference: to collaborate with and promote the efficiency of all the Security Agencies in the State; to hold for the benefit of all residents of the State, gifts, property and money; and to use fund for the acquisition and development of security equipment and such other resources as shall be necessary for achieving the objectives of the Fund.”

Amosun emphasized that, the “inauguration is, therefore, part of the fulfillment of our Administration’s efforts to ensure that the people of Ogun State  sleep with their two eyes closed, and that their minds are at rest at any time of the day. It is also, in a nutshell, another form of attracting new investors while retaining existing ones. Thus, this Security Trust Fund represents our attempt to further strengthen the relationship between investors and our dear State.

The chairman of the Trust Fund, Col. Kayode Are (rtd) assured the governor of responsive and accountable committee, stressing that the autonomy promised by the governor to the committee would ensure effective and result-oriented efforts.

The traditional institution made a surprise contribution at the occasion with a donation of N20 million from the council of traditional rulers in the state headed by Oba Adedotun Gbadebo who is the chairman of the state Council of Obas.

On major highlight of the ceremony was carrying the donation from former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who by proxy donated N10m to the Trust Fund. Agitation from guests at the ceremony led the governor to champion the move for the former President’s contribution.

Efforts by the governor to get Obasanjo personally on his phone line to give his commitment was abortive, but to save the situation, Amosun announced the donation, with a vow to ensure that the former President and Owu kinsman pay the amount.

Still not satisfied yet with the apparent low figure, the guests again rejected the amount, but governor said that he would ensure that the amount would be received and that Obasanjo’s contribution was in order.

On how far these measures will bring respite to the residents and the business communities in the state, only time can tell.