'We have stolen 70 phones this year alone' - Robbery suspects tell police

Two notorious robbers who have been making life difficult for motorist and residents of Abule-Oja, Yaba area of Lagos State, Ufoma Asakpa, 22, and Augustine Omedo, 20, have confessed to the police that this year alone, they have stolen over 70 handsets from their victims.

Asakpa and Omedo were arrested in the act by operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), on Tuesday, October 13, after they had stolen three sophisticated handsets from a shop in the area.

In their confession, the thieves said they specialize in breaking into shops and stealing handsets and other valuables which they sell to their receiver.

Commander of the RRS, ACP Olatunji Disu, narrated how his men were able to nab the notorious duo:

“Our policemen, who were on patrol routine around Yaba axis got a distress call from the suspects’ victims. The victims said that two men had just robbed them.

The policemen trailed the suspects and caught them attempting to mount a motorcycle.

Upon completion of our preliminary investigation, we discovered that the two suspects specialised in stealing phones and other valuable items under the pretence of buying products from any shop they visited."

The first to confess was Omedo who said the devil pushed him into crime.

"I’m a secondary school drop out. I was unable to proceed to senior classes after I failed Junior WAEC. My parents took me to my brother’ shop to learn how to repair generator but I couldn’t endure the period of apprenticeship.

While looking for ways to earn quick money, I met my partner who introduced this act of stealing to me. I joined him about 10 months ago and police had never caught us until now. In fact, my parents must not know that I’m thief.

I leave home every day as if I was going to work. I have regretted my actions for taking to stealing for survival. It was devil that pushed me into it.”

Asakpa said it was poverty that led him into stealing:

“It was poverty and hunger that led me into stealing. When I entered the shop pretending to buy a sachet of water and cooked rice, I saw a phone which was charging inside the shop. I took the phone and switched it off immediately.

My partner had also gone to another shop to steal phones too. We had already successfully stolen those phones and were already on our way when suddenly, we saw RRS men chasing us.

As we were about to mount motorcycle, they arrested us. We have stolen over 70 phones this year alone.”