Gun merchant suspect reveals why business is lucrative

By AKANNI HAMDALAT OPEYEMI

A suspect being interrogated by the Police for gun merchandise revealed that he was attracted into gun-running because borrowing guns for robbery operations was too expensive.

National Daily gathered that the gun merchant was apprehended by the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), in conjunction with his accomplice and gang members that have been terrorising residents of Okokomaiko in Lagos State and its environs.

The principal suspect was said to be paraded in the company of 35 other suspects at the Police Officers Mess, Ikeja.

Under interrogation, Sadiq Yakubu, admitted that he usually bought guns from Cotonou, Benin Republic, at N20,000 each; sell to members of his gang and other gangs for between N30,000 and N40,000.

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The 21-year-old Yakubu further admitted that members of his gang usually rob their victims, mostly females, while they were at the verge of boarding commercial buses. He had disclosed that he had lost three guns belonging to his gang to the Police in a foiled operations.

“I bought the guns for myself, members of my gang and other gangs, who know what I do. I started the business last year, when I discovered it was more expensive to rent a gun than having a personal one. “We operate at Iyana-Sashi, Igboelerin and Okokomaiko area of Lagos. At night we attack vehicles at Iyana-Sashi during traffic jams, dispossess passengers of cash and telephones. We operate with Okada.

Mohammed introduced me into robbery. My operational name is Yankees. “I was arrested at Ajangbandi, after an operation at a Lotto House. One of my friends invited me to join him for the operation because I had arms. Unfortunately, after the operation, he fled with the loot, while I was arrested because I didn’t know the terrain,” Yakubu confessed.

National Daily also gathered that Mohammed Abubakar, 22, a member of the gang, disclosed that he had just been released from prison, having served six months over a similar offence.