Police arrest armed robber who shot wife to death instead of husband

The Lagos State Police Command on Thursday announced the arrest of an armed robber, Azeez Mustapha, who shot a mother of four, Modupe Akinbi, to death instead of her husband, Joseph Akinbi, in Iju-Ishaga area of the state.

The Command’s Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi, made the disclosure when he paraded the suspect, popularly known as School Boy.

Imohimi said Mustapha, who was arrested alongside others at a hotel in Egbeda area of Lagos State, had confessed to the crime.

The gunmen had invaded the home of the Akinbi’s in the early hours of January 1 while their children were at the cross over service into the new year, shooting to death Mrs. Akinbi, who dashed between her husband and the suspects, to prevent harm from coming his way.

Shortly after the incident, Isah Shobayo and Ogundimu Olalekan were arrested for the crime and paraded on January 22.

Imohimi said: “Unfortunately, these dare devil armed robbers shot and killed Mrs. Akinbi Modupe Catherine, who came between her husband and the robbers, pleading that they spare her beloved husband.

“Meanwhile, at the time of the incident, their children were in the church attending the crossover service of year 2019.

“When the report of this unfortunate incident reached my office, I directed the Command’s SARS operatives to leave no stone unturned in unraveling those who chose the first day of the year to perpetrate the dastardly act.

“Imbued with the necessary logistics, they immediately arrested two suspects and recovered an expended cartridge, reasonably suspected to have been used in firing the deceased.”

Imohimi said painstaking investigation led to the arrest of Mustapha and 22-year-old Rasaq Orisunmade, popularly known as Akeju, on January 27 in an undisclosed hotel.

Imohimi said during interrogation, they confessed to being members of the gang that attacked the Akinbis.

According to the CP, Mustapha confessed to have pulled the trigger of the gun that killed the deceased.

He said: “Mustapha led the operatives to his house for a search and in the process, a cut to size double barrel gun with four live cartridges were recovered.

“The four suspects involved in the crime are currently in Police custody and would be charged to court at the end of investigation.”