8th February, 2012
The Police in Lagos on Tuesday paraded two suspected armed robbers, who allegedly robbed two bankers of $12,800 (about N1.92m) on January 30.
Parading two of the three suspects, the Police spokesman, SP Jaiyeoba Joseph, said that the suspects were arrested a day after the incident.
Joseph, however, confirmed that $8, 320 dollars was recovered from the two suspects, while the third member of the gang was on the run.
Of the two suspects, Joseph said one was a 200-Level law student of the University of Uyo, while the second, who allegedly masterminded the robbery, was a driver with the victims’ bank.
According to Joseph, the two victims were robbed of $12,000 and $800, respectively, at a point where their driver, deliberately stopped the vehicle and pretended it had developed a mechanical fault.
The PPRO alleged that before they knew it, the victims were ambushed by the two suspects, who came in a vehicle and forcefully snatched their bags that contained the foreign currencies.
The police spokesman explained that on sighting the suspects, a passing ambulance driver quickly blocked the road with his vehicle and asked the driver of the bankers’ vehicle to block the other side, but he refused to start the vehicle.
Joseph further alleged that the driver, who made no effort to help the victims, however, started the vehicle as soon as the suspects had left the scene.
The police spokesman said that it was at that point that the victims suspected their driver of being an accomplice and reported the case to the police.
In another development, Joseph also paraded two suspected fraudsters who, allegedly defrauded their victim of N40,000 and planted a python in his house, claiming that the snake was the evil spirit behind his problems.
According to him, the principal suspect, who approached the victim at the NASFAT mosque, Ikotun, offered to assist the victim with prayers over his problems.
Joseph alleged that the principal suspect demanded certain materials, including a ram for the prayers, but the victim provided N40, 000 for him to procure the materials.
He, however, disclosed that few days later, the suspect told his victim that there were certain things he needed to do in his house to block some evil spirits from coming into his ways.
Joseph said that it was on that note that the principal suspect sent two other suspects to the house and gave them the snake.
On getting there, Joseph said they asked the victim to bring them some water, during which the victim noticed some movement inside the polythene bag which they claimed they met in his apartment.
The spokesman added that the victim, thereafter, asked them to call their principal, who, unknown to him, was the one who gave them the snake.
According to Joseph, when they called him, he insisted that the snake was found in the victim’s house and that it was the evil spirit going after his life.
Joseph said that immediately after that, the victim informed the police about the issue, adding that the police quickly moved to the house and arrested the suspects.
He, therefore, advised members of the public to be careful of fraudsters posing as spiritual leaders.