I'm Glad Police Bullets Didn't Kill Me, Says Robbery Suspect

A member of a robbery gang, Wasiu Ganiu, that shot the Divisional Police Officer of Ogbere Division has expressed joy that he was not cut down in a gale of bullets during a gun duel between his gang and Operatives of the Federal Special Anti – Robbery Squad (FSARS), Ogun State.

The DPO of Ogbere Division was shot at close range last September 13 when members of Wasiu’s robbery gang ambushed him and his team. They also stole the DPO’s AK 47 rifle.


Following the shooting, the FSARS Operatives were instructed to go fish out the gang and when their hideout was located, gun battle ensued between them and the FSARS which resulted in the death of the gang leader nicknamed Mungo Park, the arrest of two including Wasiu while one of the escaped into the bush with bullets wounds in Itele – Ijebu area of Ogun State.

Items recovered from them were two AK47 rifles, one pump action gun, seven magazines loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition each, one Toyota Sienna Car, One motorcycle, one jackknife and five live cartridges.

Wasiu Ganiyu who was paraded on Wednesday before journalists at Eleweran, the Police Command Headquarters, by the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, said he took to robbery to survive but added that it was a thing of joy that the bullets from Police didn’t kill him like it happened to his colleague.

The suspect who had earlier served three years jail sentence disclosed further to journalists that he joined the gang when his commercial motorcycle, a source of livelihood, was taken away.

Wasiu who begged the government to give him a second chance to repent said the highest share he ever got after a successful robbery and kidnapping business was N80,000.

“I have never killed anybody in my life. It is Mongo park (gang leader) that shot the DPO. I ventured into robbery to survive after my okada was stolen.

“The highest money I got since three years ago is N80,000. The government should have mercy on me. I thank God I did not die in the gun battle and I am happy I was caught by the police,” he said.

Also paraded along with Wasiu Ganiu by the Police Commissioner, are 69 other suspects who were arrested in different locations in Ogun after a special operation called “Operation Criminal Mop Up.”

Two of the suspected ritualists – Jimoh Olanrewaju and Seun Babatunde, were arrested by men of FSARS on September 10 after one of them, a cemetery attendant whose trade is to remove the corpse, dismembered it and sell the parts to interested buyers.

Items recovered are assorted charms suspected to be prepared with human parts.

Three fake soldiers were also paraded. Illiyasu said the Onipanu division of the police received information on September 14 about three men disguised as soldiers to snatch vehicles from people around Sango-Ota axis and they were arrested.

They are Abiona Ipaye, Afolabi Olawale and Moses Ayodeji. One toy Barreta pistol, one jackknife and Nigerian Army uniform were recovered from them.

Source: The Nation

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