By Ifeanyi Okoli

Residents of Bashorun Ogundairo Estate, an upscale residential area in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, are yet to come to terms with a recent occurence in the estate, when operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS, apprehend a wealthy resident, Victor Anamelechi, for armed robbery.

The 45-year-old man who also owns a shop at the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, was accused of organizing major bank robberies in Ogun, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Anambra states.

His gang, which operates with two Ak-47 rifles was also said to have coordinated trans-border bank robberies in Benin Republic, Togo and Mali, where they carted away  huge sum of money.

He met his waterloo when SARS operatives led by the former officer in charge, SP Abba Kyari rounded up eight members of his gang and recovered their operational rifles, ammunitions and vehicles.

During the search of his apartment, some residents who witnessed the police operation are still in shock.

A resident who identified himself simply as Mukaila, described Victor as a highly respected person in their estate. “He’s a highly respected resident of this area. He and his members of his family always drive around the estate in exotic cars and SUVs and those who are close to them said he is a trader at Alaba market. I respect this man and I’ve always wanted to be like him. I was extremely shocked when I saw policemen handcuffed and brought him to his house. I wondered what may have gone wrong, but I learnt later that he was an armed robber that specialized in robbing banks. Sincerely, ever since that incident I have stopped paying too much respect to rich people who drive expensive cars in the area.”

Victor, (left) and other members of his gang

Meanwhile when Vanguard spoke  with the suspect, he blamed poverty for his involvement in armed robbery. He said he joined the robbery gang in 2010 when things were very difficult for him and his family.

” I could barely feed my wife and children at that time everything about me was poverty. The I usually go to Alaba market to look for job and I was making absolutely nothing. I became confused. I had a friend who told me there was a way out and he introduced to his gang. Then they had just locally made gun and what they were doing then was to sneak into fillings stations at night and brake into their safe and steal all their sales. The reason was that most fillings stations operators usually don’t go home with their daily sales so they will go at night burgle the place and cart away all the money in the office. I joined them and we started working together. The people I met were Alhaji, Dabo and Akin. Our targets then were usually busy fillings stations on Badagry Expressway, Lasu Igando Road, Lagos Abekuta Road, Oshodi Apapa Expressway and Ikorodu Road. I started making money and I enrolled my children into good schools and I opened a small business for my wife. People my area at Shibiri, in Ajangbadi area, didn’t know what I was doing then and they thought I’d started seeing little fortunes in Alaba market. After a while, some of the fillings station owners started employing armed security guards and then made our operations difficult. At point, Debo, introduced us to one Nnamdi who had two Ak-47 rifles. I don’t know how he got the rifles, but Nnamdi told us that he was a member of an armed robber gang but members of his gang has been killed by the police. We adopted him into our group and he suggested we should buy police uniforms so that when we visit any fillings stations the armed guards would think we are policemen on routine patrol. we started doing it and we robbed a lots of fillings stations, tie up the guards and they rob the fillings station. Soon, news of our activities went round and most fillings station guards stopped allowing us into their premises. ” Continuing, Victor explained further that when robbing fillings station became extremely difficult he and members of his gang ventured into bank robbery. ” Our first ATM and fast food robbery was in Ogun State . We realized N400,000 from the operation. The second operation was at a bank in Okene in Kogi State, but while we were trying to open the vault of the ATM, our burner got spoilt and we stopped working and returned back to Lagos. Before we attack any bank, a member of our gang will survey the place to make sure that there are no armed policemen on guard at the bank. If the place is clear, we will strike. Our most lucrative operation then was in a bank in Ogun state where we found over N 15 million from the ATM vault and later we robbed a filling station and collected N3.5million, which was their sales for the weekend. We also robbed banks in Akwa Ibom, Porthercourt, and Onitsha. “Anytime we went on operation, my role is to open the vaults. I use a special metal to open the lock of the vault, even if it had special codes. “I bought three vehicles from the loots; two for me and one for my wife. I also built a house at Amuwo Odofin and a opened a big shop in Alaba market with my loots. ” On how he was arrested Victor said, SARS operatives tracked a member of their gang to his abode in Igando area of the state after their last operation in Benin Republic where they robbed a bank and carted away millions . ” Arrested Nnamdi and he led the police to me. Nnamdi called and asked I should meet him at Apple Junction in Amuwo Odofin and when I went I discovered that he was with the police and they apprehended me.” Meanwhile, there are controversy currently trailing Victor’s arrest as an NGO, is mounting pressure on the police to free Victor and other members of his gang. Crime Guard gathered that, the NGO which is allegedly being sponsored by relatives of  criminal suspects in police custody are mounting pressure on  police authorities to release victor unconditionally, saying he is a law abiding businessman who was arrested illegally by police.   However, Vanguard investigation at Alaba International Market has thus revealed that Victor’s shop was a mere cover for his nefarious activities. Some traders who spoke with Crime Guard at the Electronic section of the market said they don’t know him as they rarely see him around the market. Charles Mba, a trader who deals in power generating set, said he only knew one Azunna at Victor’s shop. ” I don’t know the owner of that shop because he doesn’t come around regularly, but I know his boy Azunna. Sincerely, I don’t know that his boss was into crime and I was shocked when the police came and sealed up  that shop.” Similarly. Task for chairman Electronic section of the market also disclosed that he does not Victor. He explained that the market does not condole criminals as the chairman of the market often advice traders not to buy or sell stolen goods as the market association would not come for the aid when they are arrested. According to him. ” It was unfortunate. We don’t condone crime in this market, buying and sell of stolen goods is not allowed. It is not acceptable. Whoever is caught will be handed over to the police. On the day police came to the market they booked their arrival and told us their mission. And when I looked at the case I saw that it was a bad case. We assisted them and they parked all the goods in the man’s shop. One thing is that I don’t know this guy is market is very big I cannot know everybody that trades in it. I am familiar with those who come to my office and those who are popular in the market. Our chairman usually calls for general meeting and he will advise them stay crime free because when they are caught we will not come for them. Once in a while we raid the market because it an international market and people comes from various place to do their business. Go to Ojo Police station and ask how will assist them to effect arrest.” He stated . When contacted Spokesman at the Lagos State Police Command, Ken Nwosu, while conforming the report said the suspect who charge to court at the completion of investigation.