If Kehinde Sikiru had known what fate had in store for him on Tuesday August 9, he would have reconsidered his planned action for that day. But oblivious of what was to happen, he had proceeded with his plan to visit Solumade community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The point is that he is presently rueing his action in police detention.
Luck ran out on him as he was apprehended by residents of the community after he successfully burgled a four bed-room apartment and made away with some electronic gadgets in the house. The burglary drama was enacted at Ilado- Macauley in Igbogbo-Bayeku Local Council Development Area LCDA. Kehinde succeeded in breaking into the four-bedroom apartment at Number 6 Bolaji Lawal Street, Solumade area of the community. But his effort to escape with his loot made up of a 32-inch Plasma television set, a DVD player and other house hold items was effectively thwarted by vigilant residents who swooped on him.
According to eye witnesses account, occupants of the apartment which is owned by one Mr. John-Mabun Adesoga had left for their places of work on that day. They however rushed back home after a distress call from neighbours informing them that the apartment had been burgled by unknown persons.
The incident which happened around 11am threw the entire community into confusion as residents wondered aloud why security agents failed to rise to the occasion. Many of them told Vanguard Metro, VM they no longer sleep with their eyes closed, saying many houses have been burgled in the past few months.
The residents claimed such incidents usually happen during the day after many of them might have gone to work.
Apart from Adesoga’s house, another three-bedroom apartment belonging to one Mr. Henri Ohanugo was also burgled in the same hours of that day.
Nobody could ascertain the number of those involved in the operation but the affected landlords affirmed that the thieves gained entry into Adesoga’s house by removing the ceiling at the corridor while doing same through the roof top of Ohanugo’s apartment.
Speaking with VM, Adesoga said the robbers first entered into the sitting room before they ransacked the entire house, searching for money and other valuable items. ‘’Since they could not lay hold on cash, they made away with my 32-inch plasma television. But fortunately they had not gone far when one of them was apprehended by some members of the community who later handed him over to the Police,’’ he said.
An artisan, by name Sola, who was instrumental to the arrest told VM he raised alarm on noticing two strange faces who were males. According to him, one of the suspects was seen carrying the television set while the other one carried other items. ‘’I challenged them because I have never seen them in the community. But to my surprise, both of them started running but one was faster than the other and so was able to escape. Kehinde, however, was not so lucky; he dropped the television set and started running for his life. A mob soon caught up with him. He was made to pose for a photo shot and was thereafter inundated with questions, including his mission in the community.But he refused to respond to any of the questions. Meanwhile, rather than take law into their hands, the people handed the man over to policemen at Igbogbo Division near Barracks Bus-stop,’’ he said.
On Ohanugo’s part, he rushed home after a distress call by his children who met the house in disorder after coming back from Summer coaching. ‘’He broke the roof and entered the parlour after which he ransacked the entire house, including my car,’’ he informed.
As Ohanugo was pondering over the next line of action, a neighbour alerted him about a robbery suspect being apprehended in Solumade. He rushed there to confirm the situation after which he was shown copies of Kehinde’s photograph.
The Divisional Police Officer of Igbogbo Division was not on seat when this reporter visited the station. Also, the Divisional Crime Officer refused to comment on the issue but a source told VM that Kehinde was a hardened criminal and had informed the Police that he was a member of a three-man gang which operates in Ikorodu and its environs. He, however, refused to disclose the identities of other members of the gang because of an oath he had sworn. VM also learnt that he lives under Ojota bridge and met his comrades in crime at Ikorodu garage.He participated in several robbery operations with them before nemesis caught up with him that fateful Tuesday August 9.
The source also informed that Kehinde’s case is being handled by a female inspector in Igbogbo Division who has charged the suspect to court.
Many residents are convinced that the suspect must have accomplices in the community who possibly assisted in his ‘successful operation’. Mr. Ibrahim Babalola, Tope Adebakin, Kenneth Osarueme, among others, said the incident has put fear in residents and they are calling on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Yakubu Alkali, to help fish out the crime syndicates in Ilado Community so that they can live in peace. ‘’Robbery operation cannot be successful unless the robbers have accomplices or informants in a community. We want to appeal to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to use his good offices to fish out these undesirable elements as soon as possible,’’ they chorused.
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