Robbery Suspect,Accomplices Arrested During Quarrel Over Sharing Of Loot

A 22-year-man who specialised in snatching phones from motorists trapped in traffic and picking pocket at bus-stops in Lagos has met his waterloo , following his arrest by men of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, weekend.

The suspect, Ebuka Ekujere was arrested during a heated argument over sharing formula of loot, with two of his suspected accomplices , Monsuru Onanuga, (32) and Segun Alao, 30, around Eko hotel, Victoria Island.

Ekujare as gathered, snatched a mobile phone from a tricycle operator at about 1.20 pm, Saturday . While at it, the duo of Onanuga and Alao, bot members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers who saw him reportedly kept sealed lips.

After several other theft, the NURTW members reportedly met with the Ekujere , demanding for their own share of the loot, for keeping quiet. But quarrel which degenerated into a fight ensued between both parties. While the NURTW members demanded for N3000, Ekujare insisted he could only part with N1500.

In the process a team of RRS men on patrol stopped to quell the situation, only for the truth to be unveiled.

The suspect who resides in Ajegunle area of Lagos, said he chose to operate in Lagos Island , to avoid being easily identified.

Disclosing his modus oparandi, he said: “ I boarded a tricycle at Eko Hotel round about to Obalende and in front of Eko Hotel gate, I removed a handset from a passenger’s pocket and dropped it on the seat,without the owner’s knowledge. I alighted in front of the hotel’s gate. Segun Alao and Monsuru Onanuga who saw when I picked the handset, joined me in the tricycle. They demanded for settlement and I gave them N3,000 but Monsuru further attempted to collect the stolen phone and my money, saying the money I gave to them was too small .

 This resulted in a verbal confrontation which attracted the tricycle operator’s attention, who subsequently alerted some RRS men stationed in front of the Hotel. This is not the first time I would be settling them after any successful operation. They know that is what I do here”.

However his alleged accomplices denied having anything to do with him in previous operation but admitted to have collected N3000 from him for keeping sealed lips .

On his part, Segun Alao, who resides at 37, Gbeto Street, Odogunya, Ikorodu, said : “ We actually demanded for settlement from the suspect when we saw him stealing the handset. But we never knew it is a crime to aid and abet such criminal act. We promise never to do that again. We were only looking for daily bread”, he said remorsefully .

The RRS Commander, Mr Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who advised members of the stop aiding and abetting any form of criminal act in their neighborhoods, stated rather that information that could lead to the apprehension of criminals should be made available to the Police.

Vanguard extract.