Armed men take abducted businessman on robbery operation

An armed robbery gang robbed for hours in various parts of Lagos State between Sunday evening and Monday morning, using the vehicle of an abducted man, Mr. Uche Ochuriuzor.

The robbers, who took Ochuriuzor round during the robbery spree, also killed an unidentified man.

The development comes barely a week after 20 armed robbers attacked Regal Sea-view Estate, Lekki.

Ochuriuzor said the robbers held him for 17 hours, adding that the ease with which they operated was shocking.

Ochuruizor, who was locked up in the boot of his Toyota Sequoia after the robbers had fled, was later rescued by passersby who were attracted by his continuous shout for help.

He said, “I was driving home around Idimu at 7:30pm when a gang of armed robbers attacked me. The robbers, numbering about eight or 10, came in a vehicle and some of them entered my SUV.

“They pushed me into the boot and drove off. The robbers were speaking in both Yoruba and Igbo languages. They said they were after Toyota Camry and Toyota Sienna vehicles. At a point, they (robbers) attempted to snatch a Camry but ended up shooting and killing the occupant of the vehicle. They however did not snatch the car because a bullet had damaged one of the tyres.

“The robbers later snatched a Sienna and then drove to Ajah where they robbed and then drove to a beach around 2am. The robbers later went to relax in the beach where they were enjoying themselves.

Another witness, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said it was really surprising that the robbers operated for that long without being caught.

The eyewitness said, “After about three hours, they (robbers) drove to Atunrase Street, Surulere, where they attacked a recharge card wholesaler.

“The robbers seemed to have had a tip-off that one of the workers of the company was in possession of a huge sum of cash. They (the robbers) attacked the employee and then made away with a large number of recharge cards.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that around 11am, the robbers moved down to Ishaga Road, near the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba where they robbed passers-by and shot sporadically.

“The robbers that I saw were more than six. They shot into the air, causing passers-by to run helter-skelter. The robbers then attacked a black Sports Utility Vehicle and shot at the driver but he wasn’t hit,” he added.

It was learnt that when the bandits noticed that one of the front tyres of Ochuriuzor’s SUV was about going flat, they transferred all that they stole from their victims into the black SUV and then sped off.

Ochuruizor, who was still disoriented, said his fear throughout the robbery operations was that police could easily mistake him for a robber and shoot him.

“When the robbers were operating, I was just praying to God that the police shouldn’t accost them because exchange of gunfire would have ensued and I would have been mistaken for an armed robber and shot. At a point, I fainted inside the boot,” he said.

An inspection of Ochuruizor’s vehicle at a police station on Hogan Bassey Street, Surulere, showed several recharge cards and alcoholic drinks inside it.

Ochuruizor revealed that the robbers carried out at least five operations between the time he was abducted and when he regained his freedom.

He said, “During one of the robbery operations, they stole a vehicle which did not have a number plate. The robbers then called someone who brought a number plate and screwed it unto the vehicle.

“The robbers were also angry because my registration number was inscribed all over my vehicle, including my windows. I however apologized to them, telling them that I bought the SUV from someone and had to secure it well.

 It was learnt that the vehicle had been taken to Surulere Police Division.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, said investigations were ongoing.

She added that the victim was held incommunicado thus making it difficult for him to get in touch with the police.

She said, “The victim said he was abducted at Idimu and pushed into the boot of his vehicle and later taken to Ajah and Lekki area where the culprits robbed and then took him to a beach. When asked how he knew he was in a beach since he was trapped in the boot, the victim said the robbers brought him out of the SUV.

“He (victim) said they later took him to Lawanson but when the robbers sighted a police convoy, they abandoned the vehicle and fled.

“The police couldn’t do anything because they hadn’t received any report since the victim had been rendered incommunicado. The matter is being investigated at Surulere Division.”