‘The Cult Group I Belong Led Me to Armed Robbery’

Webo

At last, luck has finally run out on Wahab Hassan (aka Webo), who had been on the wanted list of the Lagos State Police Command. He was arrested recently by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) of the State Command. It was gathered that a number of arrested suspected armed robbers and cultists, operating along Lagos/Badagry axis had pointed accusing fingers at Webo, who they claimed was their leader and owner of the guns used for operations.

Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of Webo. He said Webo had been on the wanted list of the police since the past four years. Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded. Webo, it was learnt, is a specialist in robbing fast food restaurants, business men and women traveling along the ever-busy road to transact businesses in neighbouring Benin Republic as well as filling stations.

Also, he was described as being swift in escaping arrest whenever the police had encounter with him and his gang members, while his colleagues would be arrested.

An informed police source hinted that Webo was responsible for series of attacks on restaurants along Okokomaiko, Ajamgbadi, Agbara, Morogbo and Badagry axis where customers and operators were forced to lie face down, while monies, mobile phone sets and other valuables were being made away from their victims.

It was further gathered that he allegedly led the gang that attacked De -Sholly filling station manager at Morogbo area of the state on 23rd February, 2015 where N6.8million was snatched from the filling station boss after the he was shot on the armpit.

Further investigation revealed that Webo led an eight- man fully armed gang for that operation.

It was learnt that the manager of the filling station sold his boss out to the robbers by giving information about the large sum of money  belonging to the company, which his boss was about to take to the bank for deposit. Webo, it was said, armed with the timely information, swiftly mobilized the gang members for the robbery attack for successful raid.

The manager was said to have informed one Lucky Egoaho, his brother who is still at large to help organize robbers to snatch the money.

Lucky was said to have contacted Webo who he knew to be a gang leader for the raid.

“The gang stormed the filling station with four locally made pistols and four Bajaj motorcycles and converged on Agbara motorcycle park, as if they were waiting to pick passengers. There, Webo briefed gang members on the individual roles they were to play and distributed the guns to them. From there, they moved very close to the petrol station where Webo stood by the fence and communicating on phone, with Lucky who knew where the money was and when the money would be moved to the bank. As soon as the person taking the money to the bank moved, Webo was immediately alerted and they trailed the car carrying the money with their motorcycles. They shot him and collected the money,” said the Police.

In his confession, the kingpin said: “My name is Hassan Wahab, but friends call me Webo. I was born in 1984. I am a Lagosian from Badagry. I live at 17 Akinola Street, Igando. I am a welder by profession, but I don’t have a shop. I am single. My father and mother live at Agbara. I am the third child in a family of seven”.

On the allegation of robbery kingpin leveled against him, he declared, “police arrested me for armed robbery. We robbed at Agbara in Ogun State. We robbed De-Sholly filling station. We collected N6.8million. We were eight in number in that operation. I got N800,000, as my own share. In fact, I was the one that shared the money. l used part of my share to rent house in Ifon Road, along Cele Bus Stop in Ogun State. The house was a room and parlour. I bought a motorcycle, also. We have carried out robbery operations about six times. I robbed a cyber café in Okokomaiko with my gang, and collected monies, phones and lap tops. We shared the items among ourselves. I got phones and lap top. I sold the lap top for N48,000 at Alaba. We robbed an eatery at Shibiri Road, Ajamgbadi. 

The operation was carried out at about 8:00 pm. We realized only N30,000 and four phones. We were four in number in the operation. Other three persons are still at large. I collected one of the biggest phones we snatched from the operation and N5,000. We also robbed a restaurant along Okokomaiko Road, it was about 8pm. It was the same gang of four. We collected only N12,000 and two phones. I got N4,000. Also, we robbed a beer parlour in Ajamgbadi and collected N22,000 from the lady who operates at late hours.

“We also operated after attending a function at Gateway Polytechnic in Ogun State. The people there invited us for matriculation. The guys were cultists. I am a member of Eiye confraternity. I am number four in rank in that cult group. When we were coming back, we entered a car wash at Ogun State and robbed all its occupants of their monies and we were able to collect N6,000 and a phone. We were armed with only one gun. Four of us did the operation. My self, Ochuko, Henry and one other guy I cannot remember the name. I have a gun, Hefty has a gun, Baba Iyabo has two guns. I bought my gun from one Omo Onile for N17,000. We have never killed anybody throughout our operations. We have never wounded anybody except at the filling station operation. It was Hefty (Nduka) that fired at someone. Hefty lives at Iba Estate. I feel bad for taking part and leading a robbery gang. The cult I belong led me to all these mess,” confessed Webo.

Culled : Thisday