A serving
Lance Corporal in the Nigerian Army, Emmanuel Ebo, and seven others have
been arrested for allegedly selling ammunition to a notorious gang of
armed robbers which attacked banks in Lagos and Ogun states.
PUNCH Metro
learnt that the corporal and the others – Ahmed Monsuru, Bayo Olaoye,
Olamilekan Omopeji, Ayodeji Famileye, Opeyemi Balogun, Michael Adebayo,
and Edward Paul – were arrested by the Inspector General of Police
Special Intelligence Monitoring Team.
Our
correspondent gathered that the team arrested the soldier, an Ijaw, at
his base in Maiduguri, Borno State, while the other suspects were picked
up in various hideouts in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states.
It was
gathered that the corporal, who had reportedly confessed to the crime,
was arrested by the team, led by CSP Abba Kyari, after the Department of
Military Intelligence had been alerted to the matter by the police.
It was learnt that the police recovered six automatic pump-action rifles, a pistol and some cartridges from the suspects.
It will be
recalled that robbers had attacked some commercial banks in Lekki,
Ipakodo, Ijede and the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State and Agbara area
of Ogun State at different times in the year.
Our
correspondent gathered that the DMI received an intelligence report on
the corporal’s activities from the police, and handed him over for
interrogation.
A police source told PUNCH Metro
that the soldier allegedly concealed the weapons in food items heading
for Lagos State from Borno State, while the robbers would credit his
bank account upon receiving the weapons.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly sold no fewer than 15 automatic pump-action rifles to the gang.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro,
one of the suspects, 40-year-old Famileye from Ekiti State, said he
sold an automatic rifle to the gang for N230,000, adding that he made
over N60,000 on each rifle.
The father
of one said, “I have a friend in Oyo State, known as Mr. Mike, who
sells arms. I do not know whether he is a licensed dealer or not. It was
in 2012 during the fuel subsidy protest in Lagos that I went to Ikorodu
to buy fuel and I met a member of the gang. That was how the business
started.
“Last
year, one of them, Opeyemi, called me that he wanted to buy two
pump-action guns which he needed for pipeline security. I called my
friend, Mr. Mike, and told him about it. He sold the rifle to me for
N170,000, but I sold it forN260,00.
“I,
Opeyemi and Olamilekan have gone to the creek to meet one of the gang
leaders, known only as Ossy. They bought two rifles on that first deal
and they also demanded two more rifles. Sincerely, I did not know they
were using the guns for robbery. They said they were into pipeline
security.”
PUNCH Metro
learnt that the corporal and two other suspects could not be paraded
yet as intelligence information was being gathered from them.
The Force
Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, confirmed the arrest of
the suspects, adding that investigation was ongoing into the matter.
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