'Robbery saved my life' - says suspect

Arrested robbery suspect credits his friend who taught him to rob, with saving his life.

 

A 39-year-old robbery suspect, apprehended by the police on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, has confessed that he learnt how to rob to avoid starvation.

The suspect, Saheed Olanrewaju, said his friend, a man he called “SV” introduced him to the life of crime which he has led until he was arrested by officers of the Kwara State Police Command, Punch reports.

Olanrewaju who is a native of Sagamu while being paraded by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr.Olusola Amore, in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said that SV "saved his life"

“I met SV in Taiwo area in Ilorin when he taught me how to rob. I regret my action now, but it was hunger that turned me into a robber. I had been starving for long and I realised robbery was the only source of daily bread at the time. If I am eventually freed today, I will never venture into crime again,” Olanrewaju said.

Amore revealed that one of the victims of Olanrewaju’s gang, one Abdulateef Abolaji, was attacked while sleeping at home with his family at Budo area of Italepa in Ilorin.

According to Amore, the robbers dispossessed Abolaji and other occupants of the house, of cash, mobile phones and jewellery.

Punch reports that further investigations into the attack led the Special  Anti-Robbery Squad of the command to arrest Olanrewaju.

The Police CP revealed that one locally made pistol was recovered from the suspect while noting that efforts were being put into the arrest of Olanrewaju's gang mates who are still at large.

According to him, the suspects will be charged to court upon the completion of the ongoing investigations.