Operatives of Rapid Response Squad
of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested an alleged member of a five-man
gang that specializes in stealing tricycle, popularly known as ‘keke Napep’,
and motorcycles in the Lagos metropolis.
The suspect, Ekene Chukwuan,
21-year-old, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday after he and four
other members of his gang broke into an apartment at 49, Falana Street,
Iyana-Ejigbo Lagos, and carted away with one tricycle and one motorcycle at
around 2:00 am.
Ekene, native of Enugu State, told
the police during interrogation about how he was introduced into motorcycle and
tricycle stealing business by his mentor named 'Alhaji'.
“I relocated from Amukoko to Ijora
in search for greener pasture because I was told there is money in Ijora and
Mushin. I work as a truck pusher at Ojuade market where I helped people convey
their goods from one location to another before Alhaji told me to stop the work
for better one.
“Alhaji told me he was called for a
work by one 'Ajona’ and asked me if I will like to join in the job, promising
me a better pay and less stress. I accepted Alhaji’s idea but didn’t know we
are going for stealing,” he added.
“On getting to Ejigbo, Ajona who is
the leader told us to stay in a place till night fall before entering into the
apartment where we unchained a motorcycle and a tricycle. We put the motorcycle
inside the tricycle while Ajona drove with two others in the tricycle.
“We were on our way when we met RRS
men who stopped us but we refused to stop. So they (RRS) chased us. We were at
full speed trying to escape when we crashed before taking to our heels, but the
police caught me,” he confessed.
Ekene in his statement to the Police
claimed, “we sell stolen Keke Napep between N75,000 to N80,000, while
motorcycles are sold between N30,000 to N40,000.”
The owner of the motorcycle, Mr.
Nduka Oyekachi Innocent, who was alerted of the theft and invited to RRS
Office, said “I parked my tricycle in my compound at 49, Falana Street,
Iyana-Ejigbo, and went to bed.
I woke up the following morning only
to discover that the keke was missing. I searched everywhere, including the
drainages because I was so much devastated and worried about the debt and how
to take care of my family. Immediately, I went to Ejigbo Police Station to
report the incident before I was informed later that RRS officers have arrested
one of the suspected thieves.”
Nduka, 31, noted that he wept like a
baby on discovering that his keke was missing because he got the keke on
hire-purchase from a businessman. He was to repay the sum of N1,000,000 within
a period of one and half year according to the hire-purchase agreement he
signed.
He explained further that, the
businessman gave him the keke in February 2017 which he had just repaid
N220,000 out the N1,000,000.
Recovered from the suspect were iron
cutter, tricycle and motorcycle.
The suspect has been transferred to
the Lagos Police State Criminal Investigation Department for further
investigation.
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Society