By Kayode Adeoti
A magistrate court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on Tuesday remanded two (2) persons: Olanrewaju Ajayi and Abayomi Esan in Federal Prison Oke-Kura, for their alleged involvement in robbery attack at Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were dragged before Magistrate Mariam Bose Folorunsho on the offence of Criminal Conspiracy and Armed Robbery contrary to section 6B and 1(2) of Robbery and Firearm (Special Provision) Act Cap R11 of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR) obtained by Pilot Law from the court, the case was transferred from Divisional Police Headquarter, Oke-Ero to the Criminal Investigative and Intelligent Department, Ilorin for discreet investigation.
It revealed that on 7th September, 2017, one Taiwo Olarewaju Ezekiel, the Commander of Oke-Ero vigilante group was patrolling Erin-Mope/Imode road with his men when they ran into a gang of armed bandits.
The FIR further disclosed that the bandits blocked the road with woods as they were dispossessing occupants of the oncoming vehicles of their handsets, money and other valuables.
“On sighting the vigilante men, they started exchanging gun fire, an action that led to the death of one passenger, Idris Aomen,from Nasarawa state and one other passenger who was seriously wounded” the police report further stated.
It was however reported that one Bright, whose surname is still unknown and still at large was identified by the vigilante group as one of the perpetrators of the dastard act.
Olanrewaju Ajayi and Abayomi Esan of the same address, were however later arrested as members of the bandit while others reportedly escaped with bullet wounds.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Sergeant Johnson Adewumi told the court that the offence for which the suspects were been arraigned is not bailable.
He further submitted that the suspects should be remanded in prison in order to complement police efforts who are on their toes to apprehend other members of the bandit still are at large.
The magistrate however ceded to the submission of the prosecutor even as he remanded the suspect and the case was adjourned to 19th October, 2017.
