A 25-year-old man, who was arrested for robbery, has said that he took to it to further his education, adding that he was told by his friend that the job was quite an easy vocation.
The suspect, Tunde Olarewaju Animashaun, was arrested when he went with two seasoned robbers to attack a pharmacy.
Animashaun, who told the police it was his first attempt at robbery, said he never had any intention to rob, but changed his mind after his friend, Biodun, convinced him to join in.
Biodun had further told him that it was quite an easy job.
Animashaun was arrested, while his friend and the third gang member escaped on their operational motorbike.
To further show how green Animashaun was on the job, he briefly halted to assist Biodun pick his fallen gun, while they were being chased.
Before he could stand up after picking the gun, residents swooped on him.
The suspect was arrested by a team of policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command in an operation led by the Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari.
According to Animashaun, Biodun was the cause of his present predicament.
Animashaun confessed that he also joined robbery, not just because he needed money for his freedom party after successfully completing his apprenticeship as a furniture maker, but also because he wanted to further his education.
The suspect said: “On February 14, 2015, my friend Biodun called me for a robbery operation. I told him I was not used to robbery. He said it was very easy, that nothing would happen to us. I told him that we might be caught. He said nobody would catch us. When we got to the scene, the shop owner started shouting thief! Thief! Biodun ran and mounted our motorbike. He and Sodiq rode off. I noticed that Biodun’s gun fell down as he was escaping. I picked it. As I wanted to escape, the community people held me.”
“This is my first time of going out with Biodun to rob. I joined because I didn’t have money. I needed money to do my freedom and to further my education. I dropped out in JSS3. My father died and I had no sponsor. My mom is still alive, but she is poor. My mom had two children before she got married to my father. We are five put together. I feel so bad being arrested for armed robbery. My advice to others is that robbery is not good. They should take my own case as a lesson. When friends call you for such job, do not join them!”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest.
Nwosu said the suspect and two others attacked a supermarket and drugs store belonging to one Emeka.
According to Nwosu, Animashaun and his gang members were armed with one locally made pistol during the aborted operation.
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