A robbery suspect, Segun Adeleke, has narrated how his three-man gang used knockouts popularly known as “banger” in lieu of guns to terrorise residents of Igberigbe area in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Other members of the gang are Quadri Adeniyi and Abiola Fatai, both 21.
Adeleke, who led the gang, spoke in the custody of the Strike Team of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja after their arrest.
The suspect and his gang were said to have stormed several streets in the area, going from house to house to dispossess residents of their cash and other valuables.
However, they were overpowered by a joint team of local youths and vigilantes that mobilised primarily to check their activities, The Herald learnt.
The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
Speaking in police custody, Adeleke, who led the gang, said, “We used ‘banger’ during operation. We have operated at Igberigbe, three times. We would strike the ‘banger’ which sound victims would assume to be gunshots.
“We operated between 12.30 am and 2.30 am.
‘We don’t force doors open. Owners of the apartments open for us because we would threaten to shoot them if they acted otherwise.
“We don’t rape during operation too because we are not armed. In one of the rooms we entered, we saw a woman naked. I told her to put on her clothes but she said she was pregnant and was hot since there was no light. I collected three phones and jewellery from her.
“After operation, we would take the stolen items to Alakara Mushin, to sell. I sold one of the iPhones for N20,000.”
The police have charged the suspects to court.