A suspected armed robbery kingpin whose gang allegedly killed four policemen in an operation recently in Ijegun area of Lagos, has explained why they were able to perform the feat.
Oluwole, a.k.a Omoba told our correspondent at the police headquarters, Ikeja, during a chat, that they usually overpower men of the Nigeria Police during gun battle because “we always have enough arms and ammunition.”
“Before our arrest, we were always armed to the teeth. You see, the police have limited arms and ammunition that they carry about but for us, we always have more than enough.”
According to Omoba, he started armed robbery five years ago and his gang has been successful except recently when they stormed Victoria Garden City (VGC) and met unusual resistance from the police.
“I think, we have been very successful for the past five years. We had robbed in many Southern states until the recent robbery at VGC where two of our members were killed. It was on March 2, the police opened fire on us. The gunshots were from back, front and the two sides. I managed to escape but Paul and AY were killed.
“It was not like that in other states, in some states, when we fire back at police, they used to run for their lives, but these Lagos policemen were shooting and shooting that I asked my men to shoot their ways out. I was shocked with the kind of shooting I experienced that day,” he stated
“In fact, since that encounter with the police, I have not gone for any robbery operation. I am still in shock, I wonder why the police were still trailing me,” he said.
On why he chose Ajah and Lekki axis for operations, he said, “I think you know that people don’t keep money at home as they used to do. If we operate in places like Agege, Ejigbo and Ketu, how much can we find in a home? But, in Lekki, VGC and part of Ajah, we have rich men that still keep reasonable amount of money in their homes. My brother, we have to use our brain to work.”
Parading Omoba and three other members of his gang, Lagos Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, said that on March 2nd, 2014, during a follow up to the robbery operation at VGC, the officer in charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Abba Kyari and his team arrested two armed robbery suspects. He said Alpha Uche who was shot dead during encounter with police and one Ibrahim Akanbi had confessed.
The CP warned criminals, especially armed robbers, to leave the state or risked the wrath of the police. “Whether the criminals operate in another state and run to Lagos, we don’t want it, as we will fish them out”, he declared.
