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In Ajegunle, only grace of God can save you from becoming a criminal – Suspect


It is said that the taste of the pudding is in the eating, and he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. So it happened that when a wanted criminal was nabbed in Lagos recently, he gave away some ‘trade secrets’ and tried to attribute his predicament on his environment, which he said had an overwhelming influence on residents.

The location in question is Ajegunle, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos. The man is Ehime Akire, 35, a native of Uromi, Edo State.

Ajegunle is a famous for producing many music and sports stars. It is practically located in the heart of Lagos, and it embodies the can-do spirit of many Nigerians with a desire to climb from grass to grace. Ajegunle is also notorious for its crime rate, where the hustle is at fever pitch and anything can happen. In fact, the name “Ajegunle” is a Yoruba word, which means, “where riches Dwells.”

And Akire, an armed robbery suspect, has declared that crime in Ajegunle in Lagos is a normal way of life. He claimed that he came to Lagos about 15 years ago as a good boy, but he was unfortunate to live in Ajegunle (AJ City), where crime is the order of the day.

The suspect disclosed this and more when operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) arrested him after a robbery and two loaded English revolver pistols were found on him.

Akire, who was described as a notorious armed robbery kingpin that had been involved in all sorts of crimes, told Saturday Sun: “I am a criminal who has tasted all kinds of crimes. I was a petty thief before I graduated to armed robbery, but it was not my fault. Fate brought me to AJ City, where crime is a normal way of life. It was when I came to AJ city that I came to realise that crime is a culture in the place, except you don’t want to socialise. I must confess to you, even parents encourage their children to commit crime.
“It was when things became difficult for me and there was nobody to assist that I joined the bandwagon. For instance, when I begged people for as low as N10, they would tell me to join them in their hustle. I noticed that almost every guy in the area belonged to one cartel or the other. I now decided to join a cult group, but I was given the condition to procure a gun before I would be accepted. It was while I was looking for a gun that the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) arrested me. I was charged to court and remanded in prison. In prison, I met other criminals from AJ City. We formed a gang there. When we came out, we started with picking pockets, traffic robbery and burglary. Along the line, my gang members started graduating to armed robbery. I was lagging behind, because I had no gun. My mates were making jest of me. They used to scold me when we met in joints. Well, I made up my mind that I was going to grow up. So, I also acquired a gun and I was initiated into real crime, and the rest is history.

“My gang is strong and formidable. We do all sorts of crime. I am telling you all these because I want to repent. On New Year’s Day, I went to The Redeemed Christian Church to make a vow that I would no longer go into crime. There was a robbery operation that nearly got my gang into problems, so all of us ran away when we knew that the police were looking for us. Obilor, our leader ran to Dubai and I ran to Osun State. I was happy that God scattered us. So, I went to church on New Year’s Day to confess my sins, even though I did not come out when the pastor made an alter call for sinners.

“I told God my mind and made a vow. But perhaps the devil needed my soul; a few days after I made the vow, Obilor called me that he had returned from Dubai. He convinced me again to work with him. He gathered us again and we resumed work. The result is that I was shot in the leg and I am in police net now, while Obilor and the others escaped. If God grants me another grace or opportunity, I will never go back to crime.

“You asked why I had some charms with me, if I had really repented. I have repented. I was planning to destroy the charms and my weapons when Obilor came. The charms are not for me to disappear, but it for me not to be hit while escaping from a robbery. Yes, I had two guns with me when I was arrested, but I have never killed. I only used them to threaten victims. I also used them as instruments to break car windows during traffic robbery. I told you that I have done many crimes. I won’t lie to you. But now I am a repentant criminal.”
Akire told The Sun that his gang was prolific, even as he gave vivid accounts of his criminal exploits, emphasizing that “that there is no crime that I have not committed.”

“We used to rob bank customers. We used to operate with three commercial motorcycles (Okada). While Festus, who dressed corporately, would enter the banking hall looking out for those withdrawing money, we would position ourselves like okada riders outside. As soon as Festus came out, he would point at the target and we would follow the victim till we got to a convenient place to rob him or her.

“We used to go as far as Cotonou, Republic of Benin, to rob. I have made money in robbery. I bought many plots of land. We used to make money but not too much. My highest share from an operation was N1.2 million, but the risk is too much because we used to confront the police during robbery.

“I worked with many gangs. Sometimes, we joined other gangs to go for operations. We also meet other gangs during operations. They would go their way while we would give way for them to do their job. Many of the robbers that I knew died during gun duels with the police, but I was always lucky, until this unsuccessful one.

“My advice to young people, especially those in Ajegunle, is that crime does not pay. They should not listen to advice from their peers who will be mocking them and blaming them for not being sociable. Don’t start, because, once you start, it is very difficult to stop. You know, the first, second and third operations are always very successful, be it pickpocket, traffic robbery or armed robbery, you must get tangible amount or things so it would tempt you to commit more.

“For parents, they should stop encouraging their kids to commit crime. Most of our parents know what their children do, but they won’t correct them. Some parents collect or receive proceeds of crime from their children. Religious organisations, schools and community leaders should carry out massive reorientation to change the mindsets of their children.”

A source at the IRT told The Sun that the suspect and four others were arrested on January 16, 2020, along the Isheri-Igando Road just as they were about to start a robbery operation at about 4:30pm.

“When the commander of IRT, DCP Abba Kyari got intelligence report that the gang, which had been on our wanted list for a series of armed robberies, was planning to attack bank customers, he sent his special squad, led by the IRT South-West coordinator, CSP Philip Rieninwa, to go after the robbers. Reininwa and his team rounded up Akire and five others in Isheri.”

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