The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Ghanaian, John Kojo, 22, for allegedly supplying a locally-made pistol to a suspected robber in the Morogbo, Badagry area of the state.
According to Punch Metro, Kojo was arrested on Saturday when a robbery suspect, Banhusa Abujuny, identified him as the owner of the gun he (Abujuny) allegedly used for robbery. Both men have now been detained by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. It’s gathered that the gun was “stolen from another robbery gang.” On Friday, October 7, armed robbers raided Kojo’s area in Morogbo and unleashed terror on the residents. However, residents placed a distress call to the police even as the local vigilante group mobilised against the robbers. It was while the robbers fled that they abandoned the pistol. Kojo who was around the scene, picked up the weapon and hid it. It was after this that Kojo gave the gun to Abujuny to rob. (Kojo claims not knowing that his friend, Abujuny, took the gun from his house).
However, it’s understood that Kojo told Punch Metro that he hid the gun abandoned by the robbers because he was afraid to turn it in to the police. He said:
“I got the gun after the robbers, who attacked Oko Afo, fled. The robbers came to our area and were moving from house to house. Some residents confronted them and they fled. I was one of those who chased the robbers.
“As they fled, they left one of the guns by the roadside and I picked it. I brought the gun home and hid it. I did not give the weapon to the police because I was afraid. I did not show the gun to anyone.
“Abujuny is my friend. He did not tell me that he had taken the gun. I was at home last week Saturday when SARS officers came and arrested me.”
As for Abujuny, he claimed he had not robbed with the gun and that he was arrested during a street fight in the Alaba Market, Ojo. He said:
“I had yet to rob with the gun. There was a fight in the Alaba Market on Friday and I threatened someone with the gun.”
Fatai Owoseni, the state Commissioner of Police, disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.
