The Kwara State Police Command has arrested four suspects who allegedly snatched the sum of N600,000 which is the proceeds from the sale of cows by a cattle dealer, Alhaji Yahaya Ishaku, at Kara market, Ajase-Ipo in the state.
The four robbery suspects were arrested at their hideout by a combined team of police and members of Miyetti Allah on Monday in Oro-Ago in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.
The command in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, on Wednesday, gave the names of the suspects as Bello Baneri, Umaru Shehu, Awalu Umaru and Mamma Muhammed all of Fulani camp, Oro-Ago.
The statement said that Mamma, one of the suspects, assisted the cow dealer to load the cows into a lorry at the Fulani Camp in Oro-Ago in the morning of Saturday, August 20, 2022, for transportation to Kara market, Ajase-Ipo.
Mamma, according to a police investigation, later passed information to his gang who later waylaid the cow dealer with dangerous weapons, injured him and snatched the sale proceeds.
“At about 1500hrs of 22/8/2022, a team of policemen and members of Miyetti Allah of Oro-Ago in a combined operation went in search of a gang of armed robbers, whose stock-in-trade was mainly robbing unsuspecting citizens in the area of their money and goods on market days.
“The operation became necessary after the intelligence compass pointed to the fact that the perpetrators were hibernating in the Fulani camp in Oro-Ago.
“One of such armed robbery cases was reported yesterday by one Alhaji Yahaya Ishaku ‘m’ of Ahun Fulani via Oro-Ago who was way-laid and robbed of the proceeds of the sales of his cows’ total sum of N600,000:00 by the suspects while returning from Kara market in Ajase-Ipo where he went to sell his cows on 20/8/2022.
“Interestingly, preliminary investigation revealed that the first suspect by name, Mamma Mohammed ‘M’ was hired by the complainant to help him load his cows in the vehicle while embarking on the journey to the market to sell the cows.
“Consequent upon finishing the loading of the cows, Mamman Mohammed ‘the suspect’ went and informed his gang members about the sale of the cows by the victim and thereafter planned and laid ambush for the victim.
“On his way back from the market, the victim who was on a bike returning to the camp was blocked by the gang, they hit him on the head with sticks, he fell off the motorcycle and became unconscious.
“He was searched by the assailants and the #600,000:00 the proceeds of the sales found on him were taken away.
“In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime and the sum of #400,000: part of the stolen money was recovered, while efforts are in progress to recover the balance.
“The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State, CP Tuesday Assayomo psc (+) directed that the case be transferred forthwith to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Ilorin, for discreet investigation,” the statement said.
Okasanmi said that the state Commissioner of Police advised employers of labour to always do a background check on any helping hands they intend to employ to avoid incidents of exposing their businesses and their lives to danger.
“The CP reiterated his earlier stand that Kwara State would be made uncomfortable and tough for criminal elements and warned all would-be lawbreakers to pack their loads and leave Kwara state for the law-abiding citizens and residents to live in peace.”
