‘We formed our armed robbery gang in the prison’ – suspect
By; Raymond Tedunjaye, Lagos.
An ex- convict, Ayodeji Bakare who was arrested in Lagos for alleged armed robbery, has disclosed that his gang was formed in the prison while serving a jail term.
Rather than been reformed, Bakare hinted that he became hardened based on his interactions with other convicts at the Ikoyi Prison, culminating into forming the armed robbery gang in their confinement room.
The armed robbery suspect also disclosed that he was initiated into Eiye confraternity, a cult group right inside the prison.
Ayodeji, who was paraded among other suspects by Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, disclosed that he was arrested for stealing a mobile phone in 2011 at Ikoyi club and jailed for a year plus, before his release in 2013.
He added that it was while serving the jail term that he met other boys with whom he formed his armed robbery gang that has been terrorizing motorists and passersby in Ebute Metta and environ.
The 23 year old bandit, a native of Ede in Osun State, was apprehended at the weekend by Police detectives at Otto area of Ebute Metta, during a robbery operation.
Armed with a locally made pistol and five cartridges at the time of his arrest, Bakare was said to be in company of two other members of the gang who escaped with their operational motorcycle on sighting the Police operatives.
In a chat at the parade, the suspect said he connected with the gang members after being released from the prison and started the robbery operations in 2013.
According to him, “It was while serving my jail term at Ikoyi Prison that we formed our gang and I was also initiated into Eiye cult group. I stole a phone while working as a sportsman at Ikoyi Club in 2011 and I was jailed. After we left the prison in 2013, we connected ourselves with the contacts we have given ourselves because we were not released the same time. Since then, we have been operating”.
On how he came about the pistol, Bakare said he purchased it for twenty thousand naira (N20,000) from a Beniniose simply named as Seffu at Seme, Republic of Benin.
On the mode of operation of the gang he said, “the three of us used to be on a motorcycle and when we notice a target, we will move closer and I will come down and attack them by threatening them with gun and collect their things either money, phone or things. It is only anybody that fails to cooperate that I do shoot”.
Asked on the number of people he has killed, Bakare said he has not killed anybody, explaining that the bullets used are not as strong to the extent of killing.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni while parading the suspects said the command was determined to wipe out criminals and those bent on disturbing the peace of law abiding citizens and their sponsors.
“In as much as they have decided to be disturbing public peace, we will not relent to be on their look out and their sponsors. We will not give them chance to cause discomfort to the people, we will intensify efforts to ensure that people do their lawful businesses without hindrance”, the Police boss said.
