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'I robbed so I could expand my farm' robbery suspect

Suspect leader of car snatching syndicate confesses to becoming an armed robber to revive his farm business.

Ukpabi and other members of his syndicate

The suspect identified as Ladislas Ukpabi, blamed the economic recession in the country and frustration for his dwindling poultry business which forced him to go into armed robbery.

Expressing regret over his actions in an interview with Southern City News, he said, “I regret what I did, I equally regret our country in general.

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“Our leaders should do something to help the youths so that we can have what to fall back on after studying in the university.

“If I am well funded, I can raise about 10,000 birds without losing one; I’m not boasting about it. I can do that very well right from the hatchery to the laying point.”

Ukpabi who claimed to be a graduate of Animal Science from Plateau State University was nabbed by police operatives over a case of a snatched car which was reported at the Abayi Police Division in Aba.

Punch reports that one Mr Felix Anyanwu of Umuoda road in Aba made a complaint that his Lexus Sports vehicle was snatched from him at gun point on August 8, 2016, by hoodlums.

According to the reports, the police arrested one Igwe Uloma, who resides at No 1, Watchtower Street by Old Express road, Aba, while in the process of re-registering the stolen car for one Obinna Nwokeji of Deeper Life road, Umuada Uratta Aba.

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However, Obinna claimed to have bought the car from Ukpabi at N600,000 but later confessed to being a part of Ukpabi's syndicate.

Amongst the things recovered from the hoodlums were one locally made single barrel short gun with six live cartridges, one Lexus RX 330 SUV car with registration number JJJ 618 DL, one Honda CRV car with registration number  SSM 143 KK, a master car key, number plate AK 103 GR and one standing fan.

An automobile panel beater/sprayer painter, Moses Nwosu, based at Orji in Owerri, Imo State, was also arrested by the police for allegedly repainting the stolen vehicles for Obinna.

Nwosu, however, claimed to have been unaware that the vehicle was stolen.

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“I didn’t know the car was stolen; I met Obinna through one of my brothers, who is a driver.

“He asked me to repaint the car black for his father’s burial and I asked him why he wanted to repaint it and he said he didn’t want his family members to know that the car belongs to his father after the burial.

“But before I could finish the job, he called me to come and pick another car to work on, that was how I was arrested,” Nwosu said.

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeleye Oyebade, confirmed the arrest, saying that the suspects have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court soon.

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