News

Subsidy Removal, Hardship Drove Me into Armed Robbery, e-Hailing Driver Confesses

Published

9 months ago

August 5, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Police in Lagos have arrested and paraded 29-year-old bolt driver, Adeniran Jeremiah, for alleged armed robbery, who confessed that the increase in fuel pump prices caused by Fuel Subsidy removal was responsible for his joining a gang of armed robbers.

Jeremiah was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command following the launch of Operation Flush by the Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, to mitigate poockets of crime in the metropolis. Team lead of a three-man gang of robbers who specialised in robbing night crawlers, especially ladies, Jeremiah blamed his woes on hardships caused by fuel subsidy removal.

His waterloo occurred during their last operation on a lady, who was disposed of a huge amount of money, phones, and other personal effects on her way to the popular Afrika Shrine.

However, luck ran against Jerimiah, when he was recognised by the victim, who met him while shopping in a mini supermarket and raised an alarm.

Jeremiah, during his parade at the Police Headquarters, Ikeja, explained how he got into the business of robbery to members of the press.

The suspect responded as follows to various questions posed by press:

“I am an accounting graduate from North American University, Cotonou, the Republic of Benin. I took to Bolt driving because of a lack of jobs, but I was able to take care of my bills, making about 15 trips daily, until the recent removal of fuel subsidy and the rise in fuel pump prices made life unbearable.

“After things became hard and unbearable for me, I decided to join another company called Rider. Thinking I would get relief from the rider company, yet the increase in fuel pump price continued to soar from N400 to almost N600, so I was working hand to mouth.

“It was then that I started thinking of different approaches to business to alleviate my suffering. It was while I was thinking about what to do to meet up with my daily target that the devil sold me the idea of robbing passengers. I contacted two of my friends and told them my idea, and they agreed with me that the idea was beautiful.

“We strategized on how we would carry out our operations. My gang members would pose as passengers in the vehicle, while I would pretend as if I didn’t know them. So when we arrived at a lonely place, I would pretend that I had a flat tyre, so I would alight from the car, pretending to be checking the faulty tyre, and then my guys, who were armed, would order me to go to the back of the vehicle. They would also do the same to our victim, but when the victim resisted, I would join hands with my guys to force the victim to submission. We started robbery operations one month ago, and we have made up to N2.1 million because we have so far shared N700,000 each.

We used to collect expensive phones and other personal effects.

“We don’t rob any person we see on the road; we size up our targets, and the most vulnerable are the ladies, who visit clubs at night. On the fateful day I was arrested, I narrowly escaped being lynched if not for the divine intervention of good Nigerians, who pleaded that I should be handed over to the police. I went shopping in a mini supermarket in Ikotun, where a female victim we robbed penultimate Friday recognized me and raised the alarm that I was among the people who robbed her.

I was not masked during the robbery operation, so she recognized me, and I couldn’t deny it, but God saved my life as I was immediately taken to the police station.

“My regret is that I was impatient, as I was in the fast lane to beat the economic hardship imposed on us by the fuel subsidy removal. My advice to the youths is that they should be patient to see if the government will give us palliative, but to be candid, taxi drivers, especially Uber, Bolt, and Riders, are not finding the fuel subsidy removal funny as we don’t make gains and we can’t take care of our daily needs.”

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, however, warned passengers to be careful of the kind of vehicle they board at night, as robbers masquerade as drivers.

“Once a driver stops at a lonely place at night and begins to tell stories of vehicle breakdown, know that danger may be lurking around and know whether it is possible to raise the alarm. Ensure to insist that they stop at the next checkpoint or where there are people,” he said.

News

Photojournalists, TV Stations Barred from Senate As Plenary Resumes

Published

13 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Eric

The National Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms on Tuesday, denied at least 10 television stations from accessing the gallery as Senators resume at the newly renovated Chamber for legislative activities, the

A Sergeant-At-Arm operative, who was stationed at the entrance of the Chamber, told journalists that Senate President Godswill Akpabio instructed the security unit to restrict and prune down the number of media houses covering proceedings

Reports say that a document signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, pasted at the entrance to the hallowed chamber listed only seven media houses permitted to cover proceedings.

Those accredited include the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), Television Continental (TVC), Arise News, Newage and ADBN.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Press Corps, on Wednesday last week, met with the Clerk of the Senate to harmonise issues relating to covering its proceedings in the chamber.

Journalists who report the National Assembly have expressed shock at the action of the Senate, coming only a few days after the World Press Freedom Day.

News

Ikeja Electric Slashes Electricity Tariff for Band A Customers

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2024

Eric

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company has reduced the electricity tariff payable by its Band A customers to N206.80 per kilowatt-hour from the N225/kWh approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The spokesperson for the IKEDC, Olufadeke Omo-Omorodion, disclosed this to Channels Television in a notice on Monday.

According to the notice, the downward tariff review of the Band A customers would take effect from Monday, May 6, 2024.

Under the approved review, Band A customers who hitherto were charged N225/Kwh, are now to pay N206.80/Kwh.

“Please be informed of the downward tariff review of our Band A feeders from N225/kwh to N206.80/kwh effective 6th May 2024 with guaranteed availability of 20-24hrs supply daily,” the statement said.

The decision to crash the tariff may not be unconnected with public outcry over the increase in electricity which industry observers, Civil Society Organisations, and labour unions have described as insensitive.

The tariffs for Bands B, C, D, and E remain unchanged.

News

Masterminds of Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack, Greenfield University Kidnappings Nabbed

Published

5 days ago

May 3, 2024

Eric

The Nigeria Police on Thursday, announced the arrest of the alleged mastermind of the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna where some passengers were killed while scores were abducted in March 2022.

The mastermind was identified as Ibrahim Abdullahi, also known by the ominous moniker of Mandi.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known in Kaduna on Thursday, also disclosed that the suspect had also participated in the abduction of students from Greenfield University in 2021.

Adejobi also added that 48 AK-47 rifles were seized during Mandi’s arrest and efforts were underway to identify his sponsor and supplier of weapons.

He said, “On 12th January 2024, police operatives attached to an anti-kidnapping unit of Kaduna State Criminal Investigation Department, based on credible information swooped in and arrested one Ibrahim Abdullahi aka MANDE at Abuja-Kaduna Road flyover by Rido Junction.

“The suspect confessed to being the leader of a kidnap syndicate terrorizing the Kaduna-Abuja highway, ranked among other criminals like Dogo Gide and Bello Turji.

“He had participated in various kidnapping incidents including the kidnapping incident at Green Field University and he partook in almost all the kidnappings along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.”

Meanwhile, the police spokesman also said that no fewer than 81-armed robbers, 40 kidnapers, 73 murder/homicide suspects, 36 rape suspects, 22 suspects involved in cult-related crimes, and 28 suspects engaged in other criminal activities between January to date with particular focus on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

According to him, the strategic initiative being implemented by the force along the Abuja-Kaduna highway was responsible for current success stories so far recorded.

Similarly, he added that operatives have successfully recovered 16 firearms of various types along with 226 ammunition of diverse calibres.

“Additionally, our operations have led to the retrieval of 28 stolen vehicles, over 200 harmful weapons, and 600 bags of fertilizers.

“A total of three million, three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N3,350,000) only, previously paid as ransom to kidnappers, has been successfully recovered, while our swift and coordinated efforts have resulted in the safe rescue of 158 kidnapped victims, all of whom have been reunited with their families unharmed. These achievements include.”

The police spokesman further said that the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, remains steadfast in its resolve to uphold the rule of law, ensure the safety and security of all citizens as well as combat criminal activities in the country.

Some bloodthirsty terrorists had attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound AK9 train on March 28 and abducted some passengers.

A day after the attack, another passenger who suffered from a gunshot wound died, making it nine, the total number of those killed in that attack.

From the manifest received by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 398 passengers bought tickets but 362 were validated as having bought tickets.

The Punch