‘We are facing hard times, everywhere is dry,’ One-Chance robbery suspect confesses

One of the six suspects of One-Chance robbers arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, yesterday disclosed that the biting economic hardship in the country has greatly affected their robbery operations in recent times.

The suspect, Adeleke Rasaq, 24, was arrested along with his gang member, Lucky John, 22 in Abule Egba, Agbado-Oke Local Council Development. Area (LCDA) of Lagos State.

Adeleke, who resigned as a factory worker before joining the robbery gang said: “We don’t make much money like before. The present economic condition in the country has greatly affected our business. We have not been able to make much money. Everywhere is dry.

“Frankly, we have not made much money. Since Monday, we have been sharing between N20,000 and N40,000. Unlike before when I operate alone, I could make close to N150,000 in a day. I teamed up with Lucky because pickpocketing is not easy in Lagos these days. When you toil alone, you might not make much. We have to team up to make more money to survive.

“Both of us live in Badagry. Everyday, we come to Abule Egba, Agege, Fagba, Egbeda to operate. As soon as we make enough money, we would retire for the day,” he said.

He further told newsmen that he decided to join the robbery syndicate when he noticed that a lot of his friends in Ajegunle, who were ‘hustling’, were living better than many corporate executives. “Every guy does this in Ajegunle. We don’t see it as a crime, it is called hustling.”

In a related development, members of another robbery gang, comprising Ubuke Michael, 26 and Obinna Okoro, 24, were arrested in Gbagada, Lagos after their operational bus with Registration No FST 890 XM, picked up two passengers who were going to Alaba International Market and Ladipo Spare Parts Market to buy goods.

Ubuke, leader of the gang, had invited a bus driver and a conductor to join his group in the One-Chance operation. “I have many commercial buses that I can call for operation. I call them to join me at a particular location. The driver and conductor do their normal work while we collect belongings of the passengers, drop them off and pass them to the driver to keep,” he said.

One of their victims, Boniface Anusionwu, whose phone was found with the gang, stated: “I came out of a bank where I went to withdraw some money for trading and for my rent. I never knew they were robbers.”

Confirming the incident, the Police (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, said there would be no hiding place for criminals in Lagos State, adding that the suspects would be charged to court when investigations are completed.