Police arrest two ‘pirates’ with AK47 rifles, ammunition
Detectives from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have stormed the hideout of suspected pirates in Badagry area of the Lagos, arrested two members of the gang. Those arrested were identified as Mustapha Sunmola, 58, and Seth Akpot, 40. The gang members were allegedly arrested at Iworo/Ajido in Badagry of Lagos […]
Detectives from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), have stormed the hideout of suspected pirates in Badagry area of the Lagos, arrested two members of the gang.
Those arrested were identified as Mustapha Sunmola, 58, and Seth Akpot, 40. The gang members were allegedly arrested at Iworo/Ajido in Badagry of Lagos State.
The detectives have since commenced an intensive manhunt for other members of the gang said to be based in Lagos and Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic.
Their arrest was sequel to frequent complaints about the notorious activities of members of the gang who attack businessmen along the Mile 2/Badagary expressway and dispossessing them of their cash and other valuables.
It was gathered that three AK47 rifles and live ammunition were found in their custody during the raid.
The suspects, however, denied being pirates, insisting that they only kept the weapons for a rich man based in Benin Republic.
Sunmola, a herbalist, denied preparing charms for pirates and armed robbers, adding that his nephew (Akpot) brought the guns to his house in May for safe keeping.
Sunmola said: “We are from Badagry. Akpot is my sister’s son. He was the one who brought the gun. He told me they worked with them in the ship. He told me to keep them that his friends and himself would come back for it.
“The gun was in my house for three weeks before police arrested me. He was the one who brought police to my shrine. I did not collect any money to keep the guns and I am not a member of any gang. I am a herbalist. I inherited my job from my grandfather. I do not do charms for criminals. I only prepare herbs for people looking for babies and those battling ailment,” he said
Akpot, who said he took delivery of the guns from Alphonse at brick water, said that the alleged illegal oil bunkerer and pirate promised to give him an undisclosed amount of money to keep them.
He said he knew the said Alphonse last year, adding that he usually supplied fish to him.
Akpot said: “I knew him through Baba Beji. Baba Beji was my friend and customer. He usually bought fish from me. But when he relocated, he introduced me to Alphonse and I used to supply fish to him.
“He bought fish between N25,000 and N40,000 at least three times a month from me. He is a rich man in Benin Republic. I know he’s into oil bunkering and he used to send Cotonou boats to Lagos anchorage to load products in jerry cans.
“The day he gave me the guns, he told me to meet him in the water. He was in his speedboat and I was in my own wooden boat. He told me there were guns and that I should keep them well for him. He said he was going to give me big money but did not tell me the amount.
“He said he wanted to help me because I am a good person. So, I took the guns to my mother’s brother, a herbalist because I didn’t know where to keep them. I am not a pirate. I am not a member of the gang.”