A suspected robber, Quadri Adisa,
escaped death in Bariga at the early hours of Sunday after terrified residents
mustered courage to overpower a four-man gang terrorising Olowu and Omigbe
streets in Bariga.
Adisa was said to have been rescued
by an anti robbery team attached to the Bariga police division and subsequently
arrested.
A labourer at a sawmill in Oyingbo,
Adisa had, in company with three others, successfully robbed all the
occupants of No 37 Olowu street before proceeding to No 26 Omigbe street where
a welder also fell victim.
A resident, who identified himself as
Popoola, said, “They had already robbed some people at Olowu street before they
came here. Unfortunately for them, other tenants in the same building, who
heard them while they were beating the welder with their guns, raised the alarm
and other residents on the street came out in large numbers to stop the
robbers.
“Three of them were able to escape
but Adisa was caught and severely beaten with machetes. In fact, the residents
were getting ready to set him ablaze when the police arrived and took him
away.”
The other robbers who escaped have
been identified by their victims as Otaro, Taiye and Semiu, known as touts who
hang around motor parks and other dark spots in Bariga.
It was gathered that Semiu, the leader of the gang, was an
ex-convict, who recently regained his freedom from Ikoyi prison where he served
for car theft. The group were said to have taken a taxi from Oyingbo to Bariga
at about 12 midnight, where they walked about aimlessly until they arrived at
Olowu street.
“It is because Semiu lives in Bariga
and is familiar with the terrain that he was able to quickly lead others to
safety, Adisa is not familiar with Bariga. He has been taken to the Bariga
police division,” another resident, who requested anonymity, said.
The Lagos State Police Public
Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, a deputy superintendent of police, when
contacted, said, “I will get back to you when I have details.”
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Society