SUSPECTED ARMED ROBBER CAUGHT SMUGGLING GUNS

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected robber, Amos Kuesi, who said he thought he was smuggling hemp and not guns before he was arrested.

It was learnt that the suspect was arrested on Thursday, November 27, by policemen attached to the Pen Cinema Division while on patrol.

Our correspondent gathered that while another gang member, identified simply as Sotin, evaded arrest, 24-year-old Kuesi was apprehended and subsequently transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, for further interrogation.

According to the police, two revolver pistols with four live cartridges and a bag of Indian hemp were recovered during a search on a commercial bus around the Pen Cinema/Agege Roundabout.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, Kuesi, a native of Ogoni, Rivers State, confessed that he and Sotin were heading for Mile 2 when he was arrested.

He, however, said he did not know he was carrying any gun. He explained that it was after the police discovered the guns that he realised that those who gave him the hemp to deliver to a man in Mile 2 hid guns in the package.

He said, “I travelled to Port Harcourt to see some friends. I went with Sotin. On our way back, I was given a package and I was told it contained hemp. I was asked to deliver it to a man in the Mile 2 area of Lagos. I did not know the Port Harcourt boys also hid guns and live cartridges inside the bag.

“The bag was placed in the boot of the bus I boarded from Port Harcourt to Lagos. If only I knew the content of the bag included guns, I would not have agreed to deliver it. They gave me the man’s phone number adding that he would pay me N50,000.

“But while heading for Oshodi through Agege, some policemen searched us. Sotin ran away, but the policemen arrested me.”

Kuesi, who said his fiance had no idea he was a member of a robbery gang, added that it was some financial difficulties which forced him into joining the gang.

He said, “I used to work as a generator repairer. I was living fine until some months ago when I ran into financial difficulties. That was how I was introduced to the gang by one Ifeanyi. I knew them as casual friends. I did not know they were robbers.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest of Kuesi, adding that investigations were ongoing on the matter.

He said, “Policemen on patrol along Iju Road, Agege intercepted the suspect with a bag containing two pistols with 5.56mm live ammunition. The case is under investigation at the Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.”

SOURCE: PUNCH