Robbers forget gun and mask at victim’s home

Two armed robbers, who    allegedly robbed some residents in Anthony,Lagos on Sunday, forgot their gun and masks after the robbery.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers visited some houses at Oyedele Ogunniyi Street and left their tools in one of the homes robbed.

One of the victims, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that the robbers attacked her family around 1pm, just after they returned from church.

She said, “Around 1pm, there was a knock on the door and when the house girl went to inquire who was at the door, one of our neighbours responded and the girl opened the door.

“When she opened the door, our neighbour was standing beside two armed men. They immediately forced their way in and collected all our phones (six in number).

“They stole all my jewellery, including my wedding ring; two laptops and the sum of N15,000. They ransacked the entire house before fleeing. It was after they had left that I discovered the gun, pellets and masks.”

She added that the neighbour, who was used as a bait by the robbers, was also robbed before he was forced to lead them to her flat.

She said she took the items to the Anthony Police Division and wrote a statement to that affect.

Some residents in the area alleged that the police did not patrol the area regularly, adding that robberies had become quite common in recent times in the area.

One of the residents, who identified himself simply as Olanrewaju, said because the street was linked to Ikorodu Road and Oworonshoki Expressway, robbers always found it easy to escape after robbing.

He said, “A few months ago, a commercial motorcycle park was created on our street and with such a development, the police ought to have beefed up security here.

“If you recall, just last year, the publisher of a major newspaper was robbed in his residence around this area.

“Many other robberies have taken place here and we hope that the police will beef up security.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she was not aware of the incident but promised to call back if she had details.

Meanwhile, three suspected armed robbers were killed in the Obanikoro end of Ikorodu Road on Wednesday after engaging in a gun battle with the police.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were robbing motorists when policemen attached to Somolu Division received a distress call and swooped in on them.

On sighting the policemen, the robbers were said to have opened fire on them and the policemen killed them.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the state police command said the corpses had been taken to a mortuary.

Braide said, “The three robbers were robbing innocent motorists along Obanikoro-Palmgrove area when they were sighted by a policeman. The policeman placed a call to the station and some policemen went to the scene.

“The robbers, upon seeing the policemen engaged them in a gun battle and the robbers were killed in the process. Their corpses have been deposited at a mortuary and their arms have been recovered."

PunchNigeria