Robbers Invade Mushin, Rapes, Burns Vehicles, Destroys Another 30 & Steals Other Gadgets

Over 60 robbers operated in Mushin yesterday night, invading 8 streets and raping young ladies. For reasons known to them, they burnt two vehicles and destroyed 30 cars. The operation which started around 12am ended at about 5am in the morning and the police never showed up. Some residents said the most amazing part was that some of the thieves later came back an hour after, around 6am and robbed till 7am again. The police kept telling us they were on their way, another one said. Below is how Punch reports the gory nightmare witnessed by Mushin residents.

There were fears and tension in the Mushin area of Lagos State on Monday morning after about 60 robbers operated on no fewer than eight streets and destroyed about 30 vehicles.

Some residents told our correspondent that the robbers also raped some young ladies and operated unchallenged for about seven hours.

The hoodlums, who reportedly belonged to two cult groups – Akala boys and Toheeb’s gang – ravaged New Balogun, Euba, Ayonuga, Tiamiyu, Haruna, Ereko, Oyedele streets and Coker Lane.

A mosque on Coker Lane was not spared as the worshippers, who slept in the mosque after a vigil, were robbed by the hoodlums.

One of the people in the mosque told PUNCH Metro that the robbers fired bullets for over one hour before robbing from house-to-house.

He said, “It was around 12am on Monday morning that we started hearing gunshots. It lasted for about an hour.

“Around 1am, they started going from house-to-house, robbing the occupants. They stole about seven laptops from the house opposite this mosque. They stole phones, money and everything they saw. They came inside the mosque and took our phones and money. People were crying throughout the night. It was terrible.”

Another witness said the robbers were not in a haste. He said they robbed till 5am and came back at 6am to continue before leaving around 7am.

Our correspondent observed that a generator was also removed from its shed by the robbers. Vehicles parked on the streets were vandalised by the robbers, just as two Toyota Hilus van were burnt.

Our correspondent counted 20 vehicles, but some residents said about 10 damaged cars had been taken away by their owners for repairs.

Kasali Daramola, a driver who spoke while fighting back tears, told our correspondent he owned one of the burnt vehicles.

He said, “This is the third time they will do this to me. What have I done to them? The first was a Lexus car my younger brother bought for me, which I was planning to sell to acquire a commercial bus to take care of my four kids and wife. I sold the scrap for N30, 000. I used the money I raised to get a bus and I was paying for it by installment. I have not finished the payment when they destroyed it.”

Daramola said the men entered his house and some of the ladies living there were raped.

He said attempts to bring in the police were abortive as they kept saying they were on their way without showing up.

A resident said, “For over five years now this area has not known peace. Will the police say they cannot do anything about it? Around 7am that policemen came here, they still saw some of those robbers around, but did not do anything. Why? I believe the police know all the people causing trouble here and if they want to do something, it doesn’t take them anything.”

Tosin Gbolahan, a resident, said a policeman attached to Alakara Police Station was with the hoodlums on Monday morning.

He said the hoodlums took advantage of a carnival that was held the previous night on Ojo Street to perpetrate the havoc.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Ngozi Braide, said she would call back, but she had yet to do so as of press time.

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My Pursuit For HND Landed Me In Trouble - Robbery Suspect

Twenty seven year-old James Imoha,an Ordinary national Diploma holder from Auchi Polytechnic, Delta State, had nursed the ambition of going back for his Higher National Diploma in same school. But his ambition was being hampered by lack of funds. Determined to realise this dream, he left his home town in Agenegbode, Etsako East Local Government area of Edo State, for Lagos five months ago, in search  of greener pasture. But as you read this piece, James is being detained at the  Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, over an alleged robbery case.

James and eight suspected members of his gang allegedly stormed May and Baker

Pharmaceutical company at Oba Akran, Ikeja two weeks ago and were at the verge of loading a truck with cartoons of drugs when operatives of SARS swooped on them.

However, in this interview with Crime Guard, James burst into tears, insisting he was deceived by members of the gang into joining them. He further disclosed that his desire to further his education and also feed for that week made him join them that night.

Hear him: “ I swear, I never knew they were going to rob that night.  I was made to understand that they were being hired to load a truck at the end of which they would be paid.  I was already sleeping that night in a friend’s house when Innocent (one of the suspects) visited him. He informed me there was a job and when I asked what kind of job , he said it was to load some cartoons into a truck.

I became interested because it would be an instant payment. I asked how much would be paid at the end and he said N1000 or N2000 depending on the quantity one was able to load.  I complained that it was late (10pm), but Innocent said this is Lagos where business was done anytime. Reluctantly, I got up  and decided to follow him, with the hope to earn some amount for that  week. Quickly, I calculated that it would buy me three square meals for one week because I spend N100 per meal or less, particular when I have to drink ‘’garri’’  with  groundnut or coconut.

Too late to turn back

“When I got to the place with Innocent and Okogie, I noticed from the way they were acting that the business was not genuine afterall. But I could not back out because I could not locate my way back home. But innocent assured me all was well and I went about  loading the truck with the cartoons of drugs. I also noticed from the way they were whispering to each other that they could be stealing the  drugs and I opted to retreat at that point. But as I attempted to leave the company’s gate, there was sporadic shootings and I concluded that was the end of my sojourn on earth. I just laid flat on my tummy with my hands raised up, without looking up. The next thing I knew was that I was arrested and brought here.”

Are you sure I will leave this place alive? “, he asked this writer in tears. Continuing,he said,  “my desire to  further my studies brought me to Lagos. My intention was to lay my hands on any genuine business and save for my HND. Had I known things would turn out this way, I would have remained in the village until when God will answer my prayer. As I  speak, my relatives are  not aware I have been arrested. The news will kill my ailing mother. Sister, please just pray for me”, he said , burying his face in both palms.

Robbers strategy

May and Baker pharmaceutical is located in a complex which also housed five other companies,with each having its own private guards. In order to have free access in and out of the complex, the robbery suspects were said to have injected sleeping tablets into some packs of fruit juice which they gave to some of the guards who allegedly connived with them.   One of the guards, as gathered, resumed on the D-day with the injected fruit juice, informing his colleagues that he was celebrating his birthday. Delighted at the news, other  unsuspecting guards joyfully reached out for the drugged juice. While some reportedly drank, others, as gathered, kept theirs with the hope of taking it the next morning before going home.

Source: Vanguard