By Esther Onyegbula

LAGOS—The Police in Lagos, yesterday, paraded three members of a seven-man armed robbery gang that specialised in stealing speed boat engines and outboards in Lagos State.

The suspects,  Olawale Majero 39, Babafemi, Agbeke,33, Baba Tunde Arowodun 40,  (stolen goods receiver) were arrested in Lagos after operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, received a tip-off over their activities in Lagos.

It was gathered that two members of the gang were arrested in Ikorodu area of Lagos during a robbery operation. Their arrest led to the arrest of another suspect who buys the stolen goods.

According to one of the suspects, Olawale Majero, 39; “I was arrested because I got involved in armed robbery. We are seven in our gang.  We steal speed boat engines at Langbasa in Ajah area. My friend who introduced me into robbery was killed during a gun battle with police while we were attempting to escape. Although I live in Ondo State,  I usually come to Lagos for operations. I started stealing boat engines early this year. Before I went into robbery,  I was a fisherman in Ondo State. I am married with a child. I feel so bad now that I have been arrested. If eventually I am released,  I will go back to my village and continue fishing and I won’t engage in robbery again.”

In his defence, 40-year-old Babatunde Arowodun, who buys stolen goods from the robbers, said;  “I have a shop in Ondo State where I sell boat engines. Wale a long time ago as a speed boat driver in Ondo State. One day, Wale called that he had some boat engine that he wanted to sell.

So, I came from Ondo State to buy the engine in Lagos. They were four boat engines so, I paid N700, 000 for them because they were scraps.  Among the engines I bought from them were a 9.9 Suzuki horse power and 40 Yamaha 3 plugs. The price depends on the condition of the engine. After buying them, I carried them to Ondo State. Last week Monday, he called me again and said he has another four engines to sell. I told him that I don’t have cash because I bought some goods which I have not sold.”