Monday, 10 June 2013

Armed Robbery Is My Only Business -Suspect Opens Up

A 20-year old man, Monday Akanni, who was arrested in Mushin, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has confessed in court that he had no other business except robbing people of their belongings in Lagos and its environs.

Akanni, who hails from Badagary and lives at 12, Ashawokun Street, Olosa, Mushin, pleaded guilty to the charge of felony to wit, robbery and attempted robbery before Ijeshatedo Magistrates' Court in Lagos.

Also a locally made pistol which he used for armed robbery operations was recovered from him and tendered as exhibit before the court.

It was learnt that the police from SARS at Alakara Division arrested Akanni along Agege Motor Road, Mushin during their random stop and search in the area when they found in his possession the gun wrapped in a nylon bag.

When asked why he was in possession of the gun at the station, it was reported that he confessed that he used the gun to hustle because robbery was his business.

When he was arraigned in court, he wept bitterly and explained that he promised to marry his fiancée this year and was hustling to raise money for that purpose before he was arrested.

Akanni told the court that he joined armed robbery gang at a tender age immediately he completed his primary school education in Badagry and had no opportunity to attend secondary school.

"I learnt tailoring for four years but I did not have money to open my shop. So one day I followed my brother, Tunde, to Mushin to hustle and since then, I have been in Mushin," he said.

He said when he first got to Mushin, he did menial jobs to make ends meet. He was a load carrier and later a bus conductor before he became a full time armed robber.

Akanni said he was introduced into armed robbery by some men he met at a joint where he went to smoke indian hemp.

According to him, the men introduced him to 'bad guys' in the area and they started working together before they formed a three-man robbery gang.

He identified two other members of the gang as KG and Alobo and said their meeting points were at Akala and Akinbaiyi axis in Mushin.

Akanni said the gun recovered from him belonged to KG who gave it to him before he was arrested.

He said he promised the police to assist them expose other members of the gang and how they operate in Mushin area including their armoury with the assurance that he would be set free. But he said that the police betrayed him and charged him to court.

Akanni said he was not sure whether he had killed anybody or not, but confessed that he had injured some people during their operations.

" I don't think I have killed anybody but I know I have attacked some victims during operations just to rob them of their belonging," he said.

He revealed that there are other armed robbery gangs in Mushin with sophisticated weapons and armoury and the most dreaded gang is the one led by a disabled man popularly known as Opi.

Following the confession he made in in court, the prosecutor, Inspector E. Ayorinde, informed the court that he wanted to amend the charge and seek for an adjournment.

The court subsequently granted his request and ordered that Akanni should be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.

The matter was adjourned till 24 June.

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