Rasheed, along with two others ─ Ahmed Musiliu and Sodiq Dada ─ were nabbed by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on February 5. The three suspects were rounded up by the police in the Isheri Berger area ─ a boundary area between Lagos and Ogun states.
The police said the suspects, who had confessed to the crime, made use of four locally-made guns, two of which had reportedly been recovered. Punch learnt that Musiliu was the first to be arrested by the police before he led detectives to apprehend the others.
During interrogation, the suspects were said to have confessed to have organized robberies during which many vehicles were stolen, including a Toyota Highlander, a Toyota Camry and a Toyota Sienna.
Speaking with PUNCH, 22-year-old Rasheed said his parents, who knew about his robbery operations, had warned him to return the guns in his possession, but he refused.
He said, “I stayed in Ketu with my parents where I worked in an aluminium company before joining the gang. My mother first knew about this when other gang members came to our house to report to her that I had fled with their guns to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
“She then called me on the phone to return the guns, but I did not listen. I was using the guns to go on operations in the Ijebu Ode area.
“When we went out as a gang, we snatched vehicles which were usually Toyota products. We sold them, but the gang did not give me my correct share. Since the police arrested me, my parents have not come to check on me because they are aware of all my activities.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest. He said, “They have made useful statements and investigations into their activities are ongoing.”
