7th September, 2012
Two robbery suspects, Saheed Quadri, 30, who specialises in snatching exotic cars and his accomplice who sells the cars, Taiwo Adisa, 32, have confessed to the police that they had built a hotel and houses from their robbery proceeds.
They were arrested recently by men of the Lagos State Police Command of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, at different locations.
SARS sources informed P.M.News that during interrogation, Saheed confessed to being the owner of a three-bedroom flat and Love Garden Hotel at Eyin Ogbe Community in Liadi-Maya area of Ikorodu, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
P.M.News gathered that Saheed was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, on his way to Abuja to sell a Honda car which he had stolen about three months ago. Taiwo was arrested at his Abuja residence.
After they were arrested, two locally-made pistols and cartridges were recovered from the suspects, our police sources revealed.
Saheed and members of his four-man armed robbery gang reportedly operated on motorcycle, known as Okada and their modus operandi was to hit the bumper of any car they intended to snatch. As the owner of the car tried to know what was happening, they would rob him of the vehicle.
According to SARS sources, the two suspects confessed to the crime during interrogation.
The police claimed Saheed admitted he snatched cars such as Honda and Sienna Sports Utility vehicle and Toyota Camry.
Saheed told police investigators that he was once a plank seller at Ikorodu. At a period, when his business suffered a set back, two members of the gang now at large known as Stanley and ‘Small’ offered to assist him. They admitted him into their car snatching gang. He said two students called Lekan and Gbolahan introduced the duo to him.
In his confessional statement, Taiwo Adisa, who also built a house in Ikorodu but resides in Abuja. admitted that he received and sold vehicles snatched by the gang members.
He stated that his half brother, Jelili Ojedokun, introduced him to the group.
Taiwo, who trained as an aluminum worker, said he had bought five vehicles from the group before his arrest.
“I bought a Honda car for N650,000 and sold it for N700,000. I bought a Toyota Camry from the group for N500,000 which I Sold for N650,000. Another car I bought from them was sold for N1.1million. I cannot remember the brand of the car now,” Taiwo confessed.
He claimed that one Honda car he bought from the group was still in his possession but the Toyota Sienna SUV was with his mechanic.
While efforts were being intensified to track down the fleeing members of the gang, SARS said the suspects would be arraigned in court at the completion of their investigation.
—Ayodeji Dedeigbo & Daniel Ogunjobi