Why I decided to combine armed robbery with my military work - Arrested armed robber

Nemesis has caught up with a former serving soldier, Ugo Wil­liams who specialised in rob­bing unsuspecting victims of their cars at gunpoint. His modus ope­randi is to stop his victim and move them to a safe point where he would rob them of their car and valuables. He was iden­tified and arrested by his latest victim, Adeniran Adenola while he was on his way to attend a church service in Mushin area of Lagos State. Also arrested was one of his gang members, Obinna Aku, a mechanic whose stock-in-trade is also to vandalise and sell stolen cars at Ladipo market.

On their arrest, Adenola, their victim told the police that he was heading home at about 6pm on January 16, when a sol­dier asked him to stop and park. He obeyed and was shocked when the soldier and one other person jumped into his car.

They threatened to kill him if he fails to give them money when they realised that he had only N1000 in his pocket. At gunpoint, they drove Adenola to a deserted bank and forced him to withdraw money from the ATM. When the suspects realised that there was no money in his account, they took his phone and pushed him out of the car.

The suspects then moved the car to Lad­ipo spare parts market, where it was van­dalised before policemen found it.

At the police station, Williams con­fessed that it was his desire to better his life that led him into crime.

“I joined the military as a private soldier and rose to the rank of lance corporal. My monthly allowance was also increased to N53,000. In this country, it is not enough to take care of the family and myself. I had to do other things to support my family. I do escort duties but that is illegal. We have been warned and several of my colleagues were arrested in the past. As a solider, life can be hard especially when you are in the battlefield. This was how I started taking hard drugs and was told that hard drugs can be got at a cheaper rate in Mushin. I was later sent to Jos to fight Boko Haram and was posted back to Lagos after three years. After my return in 2013, things were not better, so I had to do the obvious to survive.

“Normally, if you are lucky at night, you can snatch cars with your uniform. Your victims will think that you are doing your job and stop for searching. Most of the cars I get, I do take them to Ladipo. It’s better to sell them in bits for security reasons. It was in Ladipo that I met Obinna. So far, this is the third deal that we did together.”

Recalling the incident that led to his ar­rest, William said: “On January 16, 2015, I dressed up in my uniform and was head­ing to Akala zone in Mushin to smoke. We were on our way when we spotted a man dressed in military camouflage. He had his beard, which makes it impossible for him to be a soldier. I stopped him and demanded his identity card and he started pleading for mercy.

We took him to FCMB, and after check­ing his account, there was small money there. He started threatening me and I got angry and slapped him. He left the car and fled. I had no choice but to move the car to Ladipo to be sold. They were on it when police arrested us.

They handed me over to the military that detained me for one month before I was dismissed. I was later returned to SARS. I am sorry; I have since given my life to Christ. I want to serve Him with all my heart and mind. I will help in winning souls especially those that are wasting in Akala zone.”

On the exploits of Akala, Williams said that the illicit activities at that zone are not hidden in Mushin. “All the security op­eratives know about the place. It’s a zone where drugs are sold freely. NDLEA can­not come there or they will be dealt with. I was told that it is a free zone, that was why I started visiting the area. I normally take cocaine but in a light quantity. ”

On how he survived in the North, Wil­liams claimed that it was God that saw him through as most of his colleagues were killed in the battle. “It was God all the way. I stayed there for three years before I was sent back to Lagos. Normally we were paid N7000 a week as allowance to fight Boko Haram. I survived it over there only to be arrested in Lagos and branded an armed robber.

In his own confession, Obinna said: “I am willing to say the truth and nothing but the truth. I am a mechanic at Ladipo spare parts market. Naturally, when these boys bring stolen cars, we dismember them and sell in bits. It’s there that I met Williams who was a serving soldier. We assisted him to sell one car and since he is a soldier, I was excited to work with him.

“Our first deal was to steal my oga’s bus parked in Mushin. We sold it for N27, 000. I did that because the man owes me and had sworn that he will not pay me a dime.

“It was Williams who introduced me to Akala zone where you get unadulterated hard drugs. I was always comfortable to move with him when I discovered that he is a true soldier. We did a lot of deals till this one went bad.

“I was shocked to hear that he was ar­rested and dismissed. This was when I de­cided to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.”

Confirming William’s claim, he further said that the car was handed over to him to ensure that it was sold in bits. “I have contracted boys to do the job and they had already started by removing the tyres, side mirrors and battery. I had come to inspect the progress when police suddenly ap­peared and grabbed me.

“I thought I had military backing, that was why I partnered Williams. I discovered that he could commit any offence and go scot-free.”

The Lagos State command spokesman, DSP Kenneth Nwosu confirmed the arrest and said that detectives were still on the trail of other members of the gang.