By Ahmed Ajikobi
Men of the Kwara State Police Command have arrested a four-man armed robbery gang that allegedly robbed one Alhaji Yahaya Ishaku, a cow seller in Oro-Ago, Ifeodun Local Government of Kwara State.
The suspects are, Bello Baneri, Umaru Shehu, Awalu Umaru and Mamma Muhammed, all of Fulani camp in Oro-Ago.
National Pilot gathered that Mamman Mohammed, one of the prime suspects had gone to inform his gang members about the sale of cows by the victim and thereafter decided to launch the robbery attack against him. Consequently, they reportedly laid an ambush for the victim on his way back from the market and robbed him of the cow sale proceeds.
According to the spokesperson of the command,SP Ajayi Okasanmi in a press release issued on Wednesday, the suspects were arrested in response to a distress call from Miyetti Allah in Oro-Ago.
The statement reads; “A team of policemen and members of Miyetti Allah of Oro-Ago in a combined operation went in search of a gang of armed robbers, whose stock-in-trade was mainly robbing unsuspecting citizens in the area, of their money and goods on market days.
“The operation became necessary after the intelligence compass pointed to the fact that the perpetrators were hibernating in the Fulani camp in Oro-Ago.
“One of such armed robbery cases was reported yesterday by one Alhaji Yahaya Ishaku ‘m’ of Ahun Fulani via Oro-Ago who was way-laid and robbed of the proceeds of the sales of his cows total sum of #600,000:00 while returning from Kara market in Ajase-Ipo where he went to sell his cows on 20/8/2022.”
Okasanmi further explained that, “preliminary investigation revealed that the first suspect by name, Mamma Mohammed ‘M’ was hired by the complainant to help him load his cows in the vehicle while embarking on the journey to the market to sell the cows.”
Okasanmi noted that, the victim who was on a bike returning to the camp was blocked by the gang who hit him on the head with sticks. He fell off the motorcycle and became unconscious.
“He was searched by the assailants and the #600,000:00 the proceeds of the sales found on him was taken away.”
“The suspects confessed to the crime and the sum of #400,000: part of the stolen money was recovered, while efforts are in progress to recover the balance”, Okasanmi said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, CP Tuesday Assayomo has directed that the case should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Ilorin, for further investigation.
He, however, advised employers of labour to always do a background -check on any helping hands they intend to employ to avoid incidents of the nature reported above.