By Esther Onyegbula

Police in Lagos State have arrested a 24-year-old robbery suspect, Amos Kuesi, who came from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to deliver two locally-made guns to a client in Lagos. Four 5.56mm live ammunition were also found on him.

He was arrested by officers on stop-and-search duty around Pen-Cinema area with the pistols, but denied knowledge of the content of the bag in his possession.

Suspect’s account

Kuesi said: “I was arrested because a friend of mine called Ifeanyi gave me a bag to deliver to someone in Lagos. I knew Ifeanyi few months ago at a football training field in Port Harcourt.

“I did not know the package contained guns and live cartridges because he put it inside a bag and placed it inside the boot of the bus I boarded from Port Harcourt to Lagos.

“He told me the content of the package was Indian hemp. If I knew the content of the bag, I would not have agreed to be part of the deal.

“Ifeanyi asked me to carry the bag when I get to the park in Lagos. He also gave me the phone number of one Sotin, the person I should contact when I get to Lagos. Ifeanyi said Sotin would give me N50,000.

“When I got to Mile 2, I alighted, carried the bag and called Sotin and he picked me up at Mile 2. He asked me to come with him to his house so that he would pay the N50,000 for the delivery, which I agreed.

“From Mile 2, we boarded a commercial motorcycle. Unfortunately for me, when we got to Pen-Cinema area the policemen stopped us. Immediately, Sotin ran away and the policemen arrested me.

“All my life, I have never participated in any robbery operation. Before my arrest, I worked as a generator repairer in Port Harcourt. My car is currently with a mechanic in Port Harcourt. I am not married yet but my fiancée is pregnant.

“Ifeanyi paid me N20,000 to deliver the package for him in Lagos. Sincerely, I did not know the content of the package. I agreed to deliver the package because I had accommodation problem. My rent expired last November and I have not been able to raise money for the rent.

“I was suspicious of the content of the package but could not refuse the deal because of the money involved, and I was desperately in need of fund to take care of pressing needs. Government should please help me.”

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the incident.