Yemi Akinsuyi/
Suspected members of a gang of bank robbers smashed by the police have told the story of the evil day when 10 officers and several civilians were mowed down with bullets in Ondo and Ekiti states.
Police authorities in Abuja paraded seven suspected members of the gang in connection with robberies at the UBA Branch in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, a microfinance bank in Idanre, Ondo State, and WEMA Bank in Ile-Oluji, also in Ondo.
Ten policemen and several civilians were killed during the robberies in 2019 and 2020.
The seven suspects, who were paraded along 25 others were identified as 42-year-old Ojo Tubosun (team leader), Ismaila Ojo, 25, Victor Owoyemi, 36, John Adeniyi, 42, Shola Oladimeji, 50; Olubajo Fatoye, 41, and Delete Ariyo, 44.
During the parade, in Abuja, police spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, said the suspects were arrested by the IGP Special Tactical Squad (STS) led by the Commander, DCP Yusuf Kolo in their hideouts in Ondo, Ekiti, and Ogun states.
Mba said the suspects’ operations were highly organized and clinically executed.
Mba added, “These suspects are well organised. They each have assigned roles. Fatoye and Ariyo are Okada riders, who would station at advantaged position to watch for any security operatives around the place. Others would be right inside the bank operating.”
Tubosun Ojo confessed that he led others to rob the banks but denied killing the policemen in Ile-Oluji.
He said, “We are armed robbers, operating in the South West. We prefer banks. As the leader of the gang, I chose which bank to rob and the particular time. We have robbed banks across the region.
“During one of our operations in Ile-Oluji, after the initial surveillance of the area, two of our guys were outside, two held the people inside the bank down, while I personally packed the money we stole. But before I could come outside the bank, our guys have killed six policemen and other civilians. When I confronted them on the killings, one of them threatened to kill me and he shot at my leg.”
Asked how much he made from the bank robberies, Ojo said it varied, but he could remember that he made N1.1 million from Ile-Oluji.
He said: “God knows we have sinned already. We have sinned against God and humans. He knows why we were arrested. If not Him, we would not have been arrested. We have asked God for forgiveness and we know He will forgive us. We are praying that you all should forgive us.”
Some of the items recovered from the suspects included two pump action rifles, one AK-49, one AK-47, 19 locally made rifles, 129 live cartridges, 145 rounds of live ammunition, assorted charms, and one Toyota Corolla car.
The police spokesperson, who called for more caution by members of the public, said that there could be no robbery without the collaboration of the people in the vicinity.
0