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We were armed by late Kogi gov – Tanke filling station robbery gang leader alleged

 

By Ahmed Ajikobi

The gang leader of the armed robbers that recently attacked a filling station at Tanke area of Ilorin, Nelson Yakubu has alleged that late governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu equipped them with ammunition for election purposes which they refused to return after use.

Yakubu made this known while being paraded on Tuesday at the Police Headquarters, Ilorin.

The suspect was paraded alongside his accomplices; James Obaje, Ibrahim Mutari, Gboyega Olaoye and 11 others for offences ranging from robbery to cultism and abuse of drugs among others.

Yakubu also revealed that he had been involved in armed robbery since 2014 adding that he led the recent robbery attack on Orange Filling Station, Tanke, Ilorin.

“We carted N170,000 successfully from the operation in Tanke and we also robbed one filling station at Gaa Akanbi,” he said.

Speaking on the shrine, where the gang members make consultation before going for any operation, the suspect said it belongs to his grandfather.

“The shrine is the power of the family and we use it to solve problems like sickness among others.”

However one of the suspects, Obaje claimed he never knew his friend Yakubu was an armed robber despite living in the same house with him at Gaa AKanbi area of Ilorin.

“I didn’t know that he was an armed robber and I don’t know where he got all those guns from. I have ND and BSc which I obtained from Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.

“I studied Information Management Technology and I work with cab logistic. I was arrested because we live together,” he lamented.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police Aminu Pai Saleh said sequel to reports of armed robbery attacks received from some filling stations within Ilorin metropolis and its suburb, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) who were detailed to Offa in the wake of Offa banks robbery attack in conjunction with F-SARS Kwara Command acting on intelligence, arrested one James Obaje ‘M’ 34 yrs, a native of Dekina in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“During interrogation, he confessed to being the leader of a gang of armed robbers and also a trainee and lieutenant of one Zakari Yau, a political thug in Kogi State, already arrested by IGP Response team in an earlier operation.”

Saleh further said that the confession of the suspect led to the arrest of the other members of his gang that attacked several filling stations in Kaduna, FCT, Kogi and Kwara State.

He said all suspects are from Kogi State, but resident in Ilorin except Gbenga Olaoye who is from Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include; three AK 47 riffle, one K2 riffle, one Pump Action riffle , 311 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition and 286 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition. Also recovered are; one Blue Mazda 626 with Reg. KEY 627 DS (their operational vehicle), charms and several vehicle plate numbers.

The CP stated further that the suspects further confessed to the armed robbery attack on Orange filing station at Tanke  junction Ilorin, recently.

“Efforts is ongoing to arrest the remaining members of the gang, after which they will be charged to court,” he said.

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