The State Police Command in Kwara have apprehended four members of a notorious armed robbery gang for allegedly robbed a cow seller identified as Alhaji Yahaya Ishaku in Oro-Ago, Ifeodun Local Government of Kwara State.
The suspects are, Bello Baneri ‘m’, Umaru Shehu ‘m’, Awalu Umaru ‘m’ and Mamma Muhammed ‘m’ all of Fulani camp in Oro-Ago.
SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the State PPRO who revealed this to LIB said Mamman Mohammed, one of the prime suspects informed his gang members about the sale of the cows by the victim and thereafter planned and laid an ambush for the victim on his way back from the market.
“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.
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.”
According to Ajayi, the victim who was on a bike returning to the camp was blocked by the gang as they hit him on the head with sticks, and he fell off the motorcycle and became unconscious. He was searched by the assailants and the N600,000:00 proceeds of the sales found on him was taken away.
He said the suspects confessed to the crime and the sum of N400,000 which was part of the stolen money was recovered, while efforts are in progress to recover the balance.
He added that the state Commissioner of Police, CP Tuesday Assayomo, has directed that the case should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Ilorin, for further investigation. He also told employers of labor to always do a background -check on those they intend to employ to avoid such incidents.