BY ALBERT AKPOR

LIKE the Wole Soyinka’s Proud Abiku that will defy all the charms and amulets to enter its mother’s womb to be born for the repeated time, a gang of bloodthirsty armed robbers who do not just rob their victims but must leave on their trail, death, sorrow and anguish, have continued to terrorize Festac town and environs in spite of the watertight security network put in place by the Police and the neighborhood watch. This gang of notorious bandits whose age ranges from 24 to 21 consists of five members and all except their leader, lived in Ajegunle. But, one seemingly interesting thing about this killer squad is that they do not rob in their area of abode. They even made sure that other men of the underworld met with brick wall any time they attempted to invade Ajegunle. However, the euphoria enjoyed by this gang was punctured when they recently ran into the waiting dragnet of heavily armed crack detectives attached to Festac Division. Precisely, on January 1, 2011, the gang who thought they could operate without challenge had stormed 1st Avenue, Festac town, shot dead an Huasa man popularly called Mallam manning the gate and dispossessed one Vivian Enang of her belongings including cash and shot their way to escape.

The following day, they laid siege to Old Ojo road, Agboju and attacked a couple right in their car, dispossessing them of their valuables. As a parting gift, they fired into the car with a view to killing them but God was on the couple’s side. Thereafter, they made straight to 111 road in Festac town again. But this time, a team of heavily armed anti- robbery squad was on hand and a cross fire between the bandits and the policemen ensued. The gang soon abandoned their get away motor-bikes popularly called Okada and took to their heels. The police gave them a hot chase, shot and arrested three members of the gang while the leader and another member escaped. The arrested gang members were immediately taken to the station for interrogation.

Members of the killer- gang who gave their names as Kes, Andy and Onyekachi resepctively, all hail from the South Eastern states of the country. They confessed to the crime and several other robberies in and around Festac town pleading that if left off the hook, they would turn a new leaf. Said, Kes, the second- in- command of the gang; “Oga (addressing Crime Alert), it is not that we like what we are doing but situation made us to go into it. We are five in the gang and all of us went through secondary school but after secondary school, nobody to help us further our education. There was no money even to learn any trade at all. That was how we came together and procured locally made pistols and started robbing. Again, it is not that we love killing our victims, it was an instruction given to us by our Babalawo (witch doctor). He said any time we go on operation, we should make sure that we killed whoever we attacked and touch the blood with the tip of the gun; that way he assured that we will never be arrested. So that day at Agboju, after we attacked one vehicle, I wanted to shoot the drive but Andy started begging that I should spare his life but when I remembered what the Babalawo told us, I ran towards the vehicle and fired into it. Then we moved to Festac and wanted to carry out another operation before policemen came and engaged us. I am very sure that those people in the car did not die that was why police was able to arrest us. Oga, please if you people can give us a second time, if the police arrest me again, let them kill me.”

The Divisional Police Officer of Festac Division, CSP Usman Ndanbabo assured that the other members of the gang will soon be rounded up saying, “This people have been giving us sleepless nights in this town inspite of all our efforts. But like it is always said, everyday for the thief, one day for the owner. I can assure you that the other gang members, especially the leader, will soon be arrested,.”