Wale JAGUN
The suspects, Wasiu Okeowo (left) and Rasheed Lawal (right)
The community policing efforts of the Onyabo Vigilance Group in Ikorodu continue to yield results as another two suspected robbers who specialize in attacking and robbing residents early in the morning were arrested recently.
The suspects are Wasiu Okeowo, 23 year-old resident of Olowonishaye street in Ikorodu and Rasheed Lawal, 19 year-old resident of Cyan area of Ladega Street, also in Ikorodu.
They both confessed to THE IMPACT that they are members of Eiye cult in Ijebu-Igbo.
They were arrested by members of the Onyabo while attacking Abass Sodiq Olawuyo,a 24 year-old resident of Itunmoja area of Ikorodu and a student of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday, …
Recounting his ordeal in the hands of his attackers to THE IMPACT, Abass stated that:
“I woke up around 4am and left home around 4. 45am but I was attacked at the Ladega junction on my way to Ikorodu garage.
“While I was at the Ladega junction, I saw these two guys (Raheed and Wasiu) passing by and suddenly they turned back and whistled as another two guys were coming in my front. I was, however, focused on where I was going and did not pay attention to them.
“It was those coming in the front that first held me before the other two (Rasheed and Wasiu) joined them and they started speaking in a language that I did not understand and I told them that I cannot understand them.
“While they held me down and made attempt to remove my phone and money from my pockets, I held on to the pocket where I have my phone and also tried to prevent them from removing the #45,000 cash in the other pocket”.
He explained that the money was his school fees given to him by his mum the previous day.
“While I was struggling and holding my two pockets tightly, Wasiu brought out a charm and wanted to hit me with it but I grabbed his hand with one of my hands while I used the other one to secure the pocket where I had my phone.
“It was while I was trying to prevent them from hitting me with the charm that they succeeded in removing the money”.
Abass said while he was struggling with his attackers, he started shouting “thief! thief!! thief!!!” while Wasiu was also shouting “thief” as well but that he held on to him.
“The shout of “thief” later attracted Onyabo men to the scene and when they could not ascertain the real thief and the victim since both of us were shouting “thief” at each other, they attempted running over us with their vehicle and I quickly jumped away while Wasiu was crushed.
“In order to prevent him from running away after he was hit by the vehicle, I jumped on him and held him to the ground before Onyabo men arrested both of us”.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Wasiu explained that he left home very early that morning to retrieve the phone and money stolen from him by his brother while he also confessed to attacking Abass.
“I discovered that my phone was missing when I woke up and Rasheed (the other suspect) told me that it was Akeem, popularly called ‘AK Bintin’ (one of the suspects at large), one of their brothers, that came home and must have taken the phone.
“We then went to garage around 4.45am to retrieve my phone from him . Thereafter, I was on my way back home with Rasheed while Bintin was following us at a distance, when I also discovered that my money was missing and I immediately turned back to ask him(Bintin) .
“On getting to him, I discovered that he and another guy were already harassing Abass and I also joined them. At a point, I attempted hiting him(Abass) with a charm”.
He confessed that their intention was to rob the victim of his belongings.
“We attempted to dispossess him of his phone and other properties.
“It was while this was going on that Onyabo men ran into us with their vehicle and got us all arrested. And during interrogation, I told them that it was Wasiu who came to invite me for the operation me and he was subsequently arrested in his house.”
Another suspect, Rasheed Lawal, who claimed that he relocated to Ikorodu about three months ago, denied joining Wasiu and Bintin to rob the victim.
He also stated that the of Wasiu and Bintin intention was to forcefully removed Abass’ phones and his other valuables.
“While returning home from garage, Abass (the victim) walked past us. Wasiu then asked me to wait while he went after him. Later, I discovered from afar where I was standing that he (Wasiu) and Bintin were harassing him(Abass). But my thought was that they were fighting.
“In the process of trying to dispossess Abass, Wasiu removed the charm on his waist and it was at that point I left them and I went home. Some few minutes later, Wasiu came home with Onyabo men to arrest me.
Both suspects also denied stealing N45, 000 from the victim.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Mr Lanre Olabinjo, the leader of Onyabo, told our reporter that the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
He assured the public that Onyabo is still very much committed to ridding Ikorodu of criminal elements and criminalities .
According to him, the suspects are among the thieves that have been terrorizing and dispossesing residents of Ikorodu of their money, phones and other valuables early in the morning at various spots.
He assured that other members of the gang, who are currently at large, would be apprehended in due course and made to face the consequence of their actions.
