From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Edo State Police Command, yesterday, arrested four people who disguised as military personnel for alleged armed robbery and cultism in the state.
Parading the suspects in Benin, the command’s image maker, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspects were arrested by the intelligence unit of the command following a petition to the police commissioner by one Grace Ainabe, over the robbery incident in her house. He said the suspects, Iyabo Victor, 35; Osas Aganmwonyi, 28; Nosa Owie, 24, and Idi Etukudo, in military camouflage uniform allegedly broke into the house of one Grace and stole her belongings, including money, phones and jewelries.
Chidi said the suspects led by Iyabor Victor (prime suspect) in full military uniforms broke into Grace’s house located in Teboga community, off Lucky Way, Benin City, and stole her property.
“The suspect entered her house through the POP ceiling and robbed the entire families of their belongings and forcefully transferred the sum of N447,000.00 from the victims’ account”.
“They collected her phone and forcefully obtained her secret code number for them to have access to her bank details.”
He said after transferring, they changed the money to foreign currency and shared it among themselves before they were arrested by the police.
Chidi listed the stolen items recovered from the suspects to include, iphone 13 valued N500,000.00, iphone 6 valued N48,000.00, jewelry valued 850,000, Hisense valued 380,000, table fan valued N140,000, standing fan valued N95, 000 and LG split air conditioner valued N360,000.
Others include, washing machine valued N210,000.00, inverter battery/accessories valued N600,000, 12.5kg cylinder valued N27,000, table gas cooker valued N29 000.00 and stabiliser (500wt) valued N75,000, among others.
He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.
In an interview with journalists, the prime suspect said an in-law to the woman identified as Johanna informed them that the woman had money and that they should go and collect money from her.
“I got the military uniform from the house of a military officer who died some time ago. We entered the woman’s house through the ceiling, forcefully collected her pin and transferred the money in her account.”
He said the in law, who gave them the information was at large, adding that hardship forced them to go for the robbery.