August 7, 2015 – Four robbery suspects that specialized in snatching vehicles have unveiled how Indian hemp influenced them into car snatching and armed robbery.
The four who specialized in snatching cars for one Alhaji claimed that smoking Indian hemp (Cannabis Sativa) led them into violent crime.
The syndicate was busted July 23 by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos while on their way to snatch a car.
Parading the suspects at Onikan, the Deputy spokesman of Zone 2 Police Command, ASP Adeyanju Shem said the hoodlums were arrested following a tip off. He said that policemen had been on their trail before the arrest.
According to him, one of the suspects, Ogaga, 29, claimed to be a welder and revealed that he was connected to Alhaji Onile, who requested him to recruit men to steal cars for him.
“I live at No. 45, Ojo Road, Ajegunle. I was in Ikoyi prison between 2009 and 2010 for alleged robbery. I was awaiting trial before I was granted bail. I was introduced to robbery by one inmate in the prison called Godswill, a.k.a. Commando to Alhaji Onile who always supplies me with Indian hemp.
“It was after my bail that we decided to rob cars for Alhaji. We have two locally made pistols and cartridges brought by other members of the gang. I also introduced other members to Alhaji”, he confessed.
Another suspect called Chukwuemeka(32) blamed his ordeal on Indian hemp which he smoked at Ajegunle area.
“I regret joining Indian hemp smokers. I am a commercial bus driver, but every evening after work, I go to Bola area of Ajegunle to smoke hemp. It was there I met our gang leader, simply identified as Ogaga at the smoking joint. We exchanged telephone numbers. And one Sunday, he called me to meet him at Bola that there was a business”.
“I left church after Sunday service to meet Ogaga. While at the place, he told me that there is one Alhaji that we will work for and get paid. When I heard the title Alhaji, I thought he was a politician.
Few minutes later, one man came and introduced himself as Alhaji. He told us that he needs clean stolen cars to buy and promised to go with us in the operation. Our job is to snatch the car at gun point and escape; and I agreed but I regretted coming from the church to where they were planning to go and rob, yet, I agreed to participate in the operation. It is the devil that pushed me”.
Daniel, 28, who claimed to be a sailor in Port Harcourt, said he met Ogaga at new Road Bridge, Bola, Ajegunle also said that he went there to smoke Indian hemp and Ogaga requested for hemp from him claiming that he had no money to buy that day.
“I bought for him and then we became friends. He told me that he has a contact from prisons that would fetch them money. He said he knows one Alhaji who requested them to work for him. We called Alhaji and he promised to see us the next day.
“Alhaji came and met us in front of Tolu Medical Hospital, Ajegunle. It was at that place I met Chukwuemeka. Alhaji said that he would take us to a place where he would show to us nice cars that he wants us to steal for him to buy. He gave us N3,000 to take care of ourselves. The second day, he came with his driver and met us at Koriola Street, Ajegunle, close to where we usually smoke hemp.
“We entered his car and were about driving to where we would carry out the operation when SARS men stopped us and arrested everybody. I regretted being a member of this gang. We would have carried out the operation, but for the arrest,’’ Daniel said.
