I went into robbery to prepare for my baby’s arrival – 22-yr-old Kwara Poly graduate

A 22-year-old graduate of Agriculture from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Saidi Ayemojuba, after his arrest during a foiled robbery operation at a Lotto company in Ajagbadi area of Lagos, on Tuesday burst into tears when he was informed that his pregnant wife had been delivered of a baby.

The suspect, who confessed that he joined a robbery gang due to frustration, explained that he went for the operation at the lotto company with the hope of using its proceed to prepare for his baby’s arrival, after which he would quit the illicit act.

He disclosed that he started with a gang which specialised in attacking passengers who were leaving early for their respective places of work, four years ago.

Narrating his gang’s mode of operation, Ayemojuba whose operational name is Aleeba, meaning I can’t be caught in Yoruba dialect, said at times, members of his gang would mount a motorbike, only to snatch it from its rider, halfway into the journey.

Thereafter, the motorbike according to him would be sold at give away price to ready buyers with the proceeds shared among those that took part in the operation. At other times, he said that members of the gang would position themselves at Cassidy bus-stop along Mile 2/Badagry Expressway as early as 4.30am, pretending to be passengers.

They would board a commercial bus, only to order the driver to stop on the way, where innocent passengers would be dispossessed of their valuables.

However, during one of the operations at Iyana Sashi, he was arrested and charged to court, where he was subsequently sent to prison three years ago after members of his gang intended to snatch a bag from a woman.

Upon his discharge, he told newsmen that he joined another robbery gang which leader he met in prison.

“I decided to quit robbery when I came back from prison. But I could not find any good job even with my certificate.

“One day, I got a call from an inmate I met while in prison and he told me there was a job he would like me to execute. I met with other members of the gang. One of them was staff of a Lotto company at Ajangbadi, who told us that they usually left money in the office.

“We stormed the place at about 1pm. I stood at a vantage position, where I was given a bag containing the money. But one of the ladies in the company ran out and raised the alarm which led to my arrest.

“Others managed to escape but I was beaten until I passed out, only to find myself at the police station. One regret I have is not to have welcomed my new baby to the world. I don’t know what they would tell her. I thought of using the lotto money to prepare for her arrival, after which I intended to quit robbery finally.

“I am naturally not a bad boy because anytime I came back from operation, a gush of guilt will overwhelm me. I went into this out of frustration. No job, even after having my HND.”

The suspect who was paraded alongside other suspects at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, according to the command’s boss, Fatai Owoseni, would be charged to court, even as he warned criminals to leave Lagos State or have themselves to blame.