Residents Foil Robbery Attack

A suspect who attempted to rob a business woman in front of her house at Ojota, Lagos was arrested by residents of the street after the woman raised alarm.

Witnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened on Friday night at Olabisi Street, Ojota, at about 8. 30 p.m. while the victim was about to enter her house.

NAN gathered that the suspect brought out his toy gun and pointed to the woman as she opened the door of her car and carried her baby.

The victim (name withheld), who also spoke with NAN, said as she was coming out from her car, she discovered a strange face standing before her.

“As I carried my baby, the suspect brought out gun and warned me not to shout, but I screamed Jesus repeatedly, he tried to close my mouth and pressed my throat, the gun fell from his hand.

“When I looked at it on the ground, it was a toy gun. As I screamed louder, the gate man in my house rushed out and the armed robber ran away. The gate man pursued him, shouting to attract the residents attention.

”While the gate man was shouting ‘thief thief’, the suspect was also shouting ‘thief thief’ while running to escape. The main gate of the street was already locked, the residents captured him before the final gate, “ she said.

NAN further learnt that before the police operatives from Ogudu Division arrived, the residents were able to trace the suspect’s Jack knife that he threw away while running to escape, and the toy gun.

It was learnt that the police came at about 9 p.m. and took the suspect, the knife and toy gun to Ogudu Police Station, while the victim and a member of the Street Association, Mr Victor Akhimien went to the station for statements.

The police spokesman in Lagos State, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the arrest, stressing that the suspect would be charged to court on Dec. 3 for armed robbery.