By Ifeanyi Okolie

LAGOS — Operatives of the Special-Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, at the Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, said it arrested two car snatchers who have been terrorizing Lagos and Ogun states.

The suspects, identified as Musibau  Ayinde and Isiaka Afolabi,  met their Waterloo penultimate Monday when  SARS operatives led by Abba Kyari, rounded them up at Ojuelegba area of the state.

Sources disclosed that the suspects, who were said to have carried out series of robbery and car snatching operations in the states, were allegedly recruited by one Baba Ibeji.

The source also said the Baba Ibeji used to procure arms and ammunition for the gang.

According to the source, “one Baba Ibeji bought guns for them and in the process of using the gun, police arrested them.”

Ayinde, 25, who said he used to reside at 2, Oko Baba Street, Oyingbo, a native of Kwara State and a generator mechanic confessed to the crime, saying: “It was one guy in our area called Baba Ibeji, whom we used to work with that implicated me.

“About three years ago, he bought two guns for us. He is my boss. He had taken us to two places to snatch cars. The first time, he took us to Ifonyin in Ogun State for operation and we took a Camry car from a pastor.

“The second one, we robbed Acura Legend in the same Ogun State. He only paid us for the Camry, but the Acura, he did not give us a dime. This was what brought about our misunderstanding.

“It was this misunderstanding that made him to give us out for arrest. He paid us only N80,000 in the first operation. We were three that carried out the operation. The third person was his friend.

“After the second robbery, his friend took the guns and disappeared. So we had misunderstanding with Baba Ibeji and stopped working for him.

“But surprisingly after a long time, he called me on phone. I don’t know how he got my new number. I did not know he was arranging for my arrest. He said he was still around in case there was any business. I told him I did not have any because I no longer engage in robbery.”

Isiaka, 28, from Offa, Kwara State, and resident of 42, Jebba Street, Oyingbo, married newly with a child collaborated Ayinde’s confession.

He said he was arrested for robbery, adding that one of his friends, Musbau, invited him and told him that Baba Ibeji asked him to come and collect some money.

“I and Musbau were working for Baba Ibeji. We only worked for him twice. He was the one who bought the guns for us. That was between  2004 and 2007. It was a long time ago.

Deputy Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Lelma Kolle who confirmed the arrests said efforts were on to arrest other members of the gang.