The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old ‘bolt’ driver, Jeremiah Adeniran, who allegedly robbed some of his passengers.
Adeniran, in an interview with journalists on Friday in Ikeja, claimed that the hike in fuel price led him to robbery.
“Before, I can do 15 trips a day but after the rise in fuel price, my business was no longer moving as I wanted, so I ventured into robbery,” he said.
According to him, his two other accomplices always stayed around on the road to carry out the robbery.
Adeniran, who claimed that he only robbed his passengers on three occasions since he started the robbery business last month, said he was arrested on Saturday when one of the victims recognised him.
“On Saturday morning, I entered a shop and I saw the lady I picked up and robbed a day before, she instantly recognised me because I was not putting on a nose mask.
“She raised alarm and that was how I was arrested and taken to Ikotun Police Station,” he said.
Adeniran, a father of one, said the money he and his gang made in total was divided into three and that his share was N700, 000.
The suspect, who claimed to be a university graduate, said he went into crime out of desperation and for want of something better to do.
“It was not my plan initially to engage in such, just that I do not have a choice but now I regret involving in robbery,” he said.
Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the suspect committed the offence on the 8th July, 2023 at about 11:00 p.m.
“A lady, who was going to Lagos Island from Ikotun booked a ride, she was picked at Governor’s Road, Ikotun. On their way, the driver pretended that he had a flat tyre, parked the car and alighted.
“Shortly, other members of his gang surfaced and took over the steering while the driver was made to sit at the back.
“The driver later brought out a knife and robbed the lady of her money and iPhone.
“Police operatives painstakingly embarked on investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect at BRT market Ikotun while selling the robbed items,” he said.
The image-maker said that the operational Toyota Camry Saloon car and knife were recovered from him.
He said investigations revealed that the suspect and his gang have been robbing people of their valuables in this manner.
Hundeyin said a manhunt was on for the other members of the gang.
