Three suspected robbers, who attacked the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, in the Anthony Village area of Lagos State, have said they got inside information from one of his security guards.
The robbers, who are nationals of Republic of Chad, were identified as Umar Hussein, 46; Atim Abukakar, 31; and 35-year-old Abdulrazak Hassan.
They claimed to have made away with N200,000, phones and valuables kept in Amuka-Pemu’s wardrobe.
PUNCH Metro had reported that a four-man gang invaded the publisher’s residence at about 1am on Sunday, June 5, 2016.
The robbers, who injured 81-year-old Amuka-Pemu, reportedly carted away his phones and money (local and foreign currencies), before escaping in a car they brought for the operation.
It was reported that the police thereafter arrested Amuka-Pemu’s two security guards, identified only as Jude and Francis, after which members of the robbery gang were apprehended.
Our correspondents gathered that through some tracking devices, security operatives were able to arrest two members of the gang in June, while the third member was picked up on Monday, July 10.
The fourth member, identified only as Muhammed, was said to be at large.
While being paraded on Thursday at the command headquarters, Ikeja, Hussein said a security guard at the publisher’s house opened the gate for them, adding that the guard did not reveal his identity.
He said, “There were two security men at the house; one was Igbo and the other Hausa. One of the guards called Gambo, our informant, to tell him about the operation. Gambo, who lived in the FESTAC Town area, informed Muhammed.
“We were four that went to the house and Muhammed invited us. The unknown guard opened the gate through which we all entered. We saw N200,000 in the man’s wardrobe and took it.
“I am from Chad, but I have been staying in Lagos State since 2001. I live in the Satellite Town area, where I work in a private school as a gardener. After leaving the man’s house, we went to a nearby hotel, where we shared the money inside our car.”
Abubakar, the second Chadian, added that he packed some pound notes from the publisher’s wardrobe and N100,000 cash, saying they met Amuka-Pemu sleeping.
He said, “I stay in Sango Ota, Ogun State. I was called by Muhammed that there was a job he would want me to participate in. I was asked to go to the Anthony Village area. When I got there, a car was waiting and we drove into the close where the man lives; we met him sleeping.
“When I opened his wardrobe, I found newspapers and some pound notes. I quickly packed the pounds. I searched again and found N100,000 and took it. That was all I made from the robbery.
“We did not intend to beat the publisher. When he saw us, he was frightened and he tried to run during which he fell and hurt his finger. I had not worked with Muhammed before that day. When we came in, we tied the two security guards at the gate and escaped in our car after the operation.”
Hassan, the third suspect, told our correspondent that he drove the car used by the gang.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects, said a Mitsubishi salon car, one sledgehammer and an iron cutter were recovered from them, adding that the police were closing in on the fleeing gang member.
He said, “Operatives are still interrogating the three of them to be able to arrest the last member of the gang. They have confessed to the crime, and the vehicle which they used for the robbery has been recovered.
“One sledgehammer and an iron cutter were also recovered from them. The three of them are from the Republic of Chad. They are cross-country criminals and at the end of investigation, they will be charged to court.”
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