Fulani Arrested for Robbery On Lagos/Ibadan Expressway

According to Punch, Officials of the Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said two Fulani herdsmen, identified as Mohammed Umar and Manu Hassan are in its custody for alleged robbery.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, who made this known to Punch, said the suspects who are herdsmen from the Ngaski area of Kebbi State, were apprehended by soldiers attached to the OP MESA while they were robbing some people along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“They are the ones terrorising the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, especially around the Kara Market. They have confessed to several other robberies. Three locally-made guns and knives were recovered from them,” Nwosu said.

The force spokesman said the suspects have been handed over to the state Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further investigation.

The PPRO said three locally-made rifles and some cartridges were recovered from the gang during the operation.

Nwosu further revealed that a gang of Fulani herdsmen robbers, apart from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, also has hideouts in the Abbatoir, Abule Egba and Agege areas of Lagos where they execute their acts.

He said while the soldiers were arresting Umar and Hassan, four other members of the gang escaped and are still at large, adding that the suspected herdsmen robbers also have hideouts in the Igbo Ora and Saki areas of Oyo State.

The 28-year-old Umar, who spoke with newsmen, confessed that he had come to Kara Market on the expressway to make a living by selling cows before he joined the gang.

“I am married with two children, and my family is based in Kebbi. I was formerly selling cows at the Kara Market before I was introduced to the gang. I rob on the highway and also steal cows, although I don’t enjoy it. I have stolen about 12 cows this year. I sold them to one Alhaji Dan Manu in Abbatoir, Agege. I sold six to him for N500, 000. I don’t have problem taking the cows away. I know their language,” Umar said.

Speaking also, 22-year-old Hassan, who hails from from Bonza area of Kebbi, disclosed that the gang had just commenced their operation when the OP MESA team stormed the place.

“It was Mohammed (Umar) who said they had a work to do that night and I should come with them. I thought he was talking about construction labour. But when I knew we were going to rob on the expressway, I told them I could not use a gun. 

They threatened to kill me, and then handed me one of their guns. We had hardly started the operation when the soldiers arrived at the scene. Others ran away, but I was caught. We were seven in number. The soldiers might have killed me, but I surrendered to them, explaining that it was my first time,” Hassan said.

It would be recalled that on December 2, 2014, suspected Fulani Herdsmen reportedly killed a 29-year-old prince of Ejegbo community in Ankpa local government area of Kogi State.

Punch