LAGOS AUGUST 2ND (URHOBOTODAY) — Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, yesterday, arrested, a suspected leader of a notorious robbery gang that has been terrorizing Lagos and other states within the South-West region.
The suspect identified as Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka Abbey Godogodo, said to be on SARS wanted list, reportedly met his waterloo after the operatives laid ambush for him at his Egbeda home in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The operatives were said to have laid ambush for the suspect for three weeks which eventually paid off as they recovered two AK47 rifles and 10 fully loaded magazines in his apartment.
Godogodo, as he is popularly called, allegedly masterminded the July 7, 2013 murder of seven persons at O4 Hotel in Ajah area of Lagos.
He reportedly confessed to killing some policemen and two other security guards at a popular hotel, along Apapa Road, Ebute-Meta area on the same day.
Police sources told Vanguard: “Godogodo narrowly escaped arrest on July 14, 2013, when he and members of his gang engaged SARS operatives in shoot-out on Eko Bridge, Lagos Island, after they killed two policemen at Ebute-Ero and Ajao Estate respectively.
“Five members of his gang were reportedly gunned down during the encounter, while Godogodo and two others escaped.”
A police source, who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said the suspect confessed to have led several bank robberies in Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Osun States.
How he was arrested
According to the sources, “he is the biggest and the most notorious armed robber we have in the South-West in the past 14 years.
“We arrested him at about 11am today (yesterday) in his mansion at Olowu area of Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State and recovered two AK47 rifles and 10 loaded AK-47 magazines in his house.
“We have arrested some members of his gang and recovered several rifles from them. But he kept recruiting more to replace those arrested.”
I do not regret my actions —Suspect
In an interview, the 36-year-old suspect who hails from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, simply said he had no regrets for his actions, disclosing that he started robbery 17 years ago.
He said: “I started robbing in 1996. I have spent more than seven years in prison. My prolonged stay in prison for minor crime of fighting hardened me and I vowed to pay back the police for that injustice.
“After I was released, I went to Katangua, in Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos to meet my friend, Odun, who was arrested by the police recently at O4 Hotel in Ajah. Odun was an armed robber then and we started operating.
“We worked with several other gangs and I invested the loots in purchasing arms. I have built five houses in Ifo, Ilaro, Ikorodu and Ibadan.
“I usually kill policemen and take their rifles because policemen have killed several of my boys and taken most of our rifles from them.
“I have no regrets for all I have done and I have no advice for young people who want to become armed robbers like me.
“I have three children from three women. The police should take all my property if they wish.”