Jolly
Abienekpen, a robbery suspect, has confessed that: “Peer pressure and negative influences of my
friends were part of the things that made me join robbery. I was enticed
because of the way my friends spend money. Yes, that was the main reason I
joined them. I also wanted to raise money to establish my own barbing saloon.
If I had about N30, 000, I would have been able to establish my business.”
According to operatives
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, Abienekpen was part of a gang of robbers
that had been terrorising theatre goers at the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos
State.
The police
explained that Abienekpen and his partner, Olalekan Olumide were sighted at
Iganmu, Orile, dispossessing theatre goers of their valuables at gun point.
Police had chased after them. While Abienekpen was nabbed, Olumide escaped. Olumide’s freedom was however short
lived, for he was arrested a few days later.
A locally made
gun was recovered from the gang. “The gun that was recovered from me during the
operation was given to me by a man called Bassey. He had just been released
from prison.”
A police source
said: “On sighting
the officers, Abienekpen immediately threw away his gun. The gun and four live
cartridges were recovered from him. He was later transferred to SARS for
further investigation.”
Singing like a
bird to the police, Abienekpen said that the gang had successfully robbed some
theatre goers that fateful night before police appeared and spoilt their fun.
“We were actually
about to rob the third person that night when police came,” he said.
He further
narrated: “As a barber, I used to make between N1000 to N1500 daily. Out of
that money, I would deliver between N500 to N700 to the shop owner, depending
on the day’s patronage. I was not making much, but I could have continued to
manage. I was introduced into robbery by my friend, Shitta.
“Shitta
introduced me to Oyo and Aluma who are members of the gang. Usually four of us
go for robbery operation. I met Shitta at Indian hemp joint where I usually go
to smoke. I started discussing with them and they introduced me into their
gang’s operations.”
He recalled that
as the newest member of the gang, part of his job description was to carry bags
for the gang. Valuables snatched from victims were put inside the bag.
“After
operations, they don’t give me good money. The money is enough to keep body and
soul together before the next operation. Sometimes they give me between N4000
to N7000 after each operation.”
Even as a robber,
he still continued with his barbing job, only leaving at night with the gang to
rob at night. But he
confessed to have fully embraced robbery after his shop, where he works as
barber was demolished at NPA quarter, in Victoria Island.
He said: “During
the operations I used to stand outside the building, while others will go
inside to carry out the operation. We make use of two guns which is held by Oyo
and Aluma.”
Olumide, who just
left prison last year July, said that he met Abienekpen at Iddo, Oyingbo, where
both of them used to be cart pushers before they graduated to robbery.
“I’ve only
participated in one robbery operation. And I only took part because I needed
money to take care of some pressing issues,” said Olumide.
He said that
Abienekpen convinced him to join robbery, but didn’t promise him any specific
amount.
His words: “But
on the night that police chased us, Abienekpen said that whatsoever we got from
the operation, would be shared equally. I was sentenced and locked up in
Maximum Prison, Kiri-Kiri for vandalism of government’s property. I stole some
copper wire from Apongbon and sold it for N70, 000. I used the money to rent a
house.”
Police spokesman,
Kenneth Nwosu, confirming the arrest of the suspects, said they were
apprehended by policemen attached to Iponri Police Station who were patrol duty
along the National Theatre axis.
.jpg)
