Robbery suspect confesses to drugging his victims

The 49-year-old suspect identified as Garba Ibrahim, who is specialised in robbing taxi drivers, disclosed that his method was so full proof, he never imagined he could fail, Punch reports.

A native of Otukpo, Benue State, has reportedly worked his way across Abuja, Benue and Kogi states, where he reportedly operated until the law caught up with him.

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Following his arrest, Ibrahim is currently being held at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The suspect reportedly told police investigators, “With the only biscuit, I can rob any taxi driver. I usually lace the biscuit with drugs.”

At the point of his arrest, operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team recovered eight vehicles he had stolen and was yet to dispose of.

Ibrahim met his waterloo after his last victim reported the case to the police and provided them with information that led to his arrest after he was tracked down to his hometown in Otukpo.

Punch reports that he was found hiding out in a car dealership filled with cars stolen from his victims.

A police source disclosed to Punch correspondents that the suspect robbed the victim after giving him tea and biscuit that had been laced with drugs.

In the statement made to the police investigators, Ibrahim disclosed that he is married with four children and started his criminal activities just a few months ago after he realised robbing taxi drivers was not that difficult.

According to him, he discovered the method of drugging taxi drivers by chance.

He said, “It all started when I chartered a cab from Makurdi to Gboko. On the way, I stopped over at a restaurant to buy food, part of which I offered to the driver. We bought Semovita and drove to a place and started eating. He started feeling dizzy.

“I then took out his floor mat from the car and told him to sleep on it. But before he slept off, I took the car key. As soon as he slept off, I drove the car, a Volkswagen Golf 3 to Otukpo and I sold it to a man called Chiama for N500,000.

“Fourteen days after I robbed that driver, I travelled to Abuja and boarded another cab. I asked the driver to take me to Sheraton Hotel. I paid him when we got there and asked him to wait so he could take me back. I entered the hotel to make him think I was rich. But I went to the poolside and sat there for some time.”

Ibrahim added that after a while, he returned to the driver and asked to be taken to another hotel where he reportedly paid for a room and told the driver to follow him for his money.

The suspect said, “Once inside the room, I told him I needed to eat something fast and asked if he wanted something to eat too. I brought out bread and biscuit from my bag. I had already put some sleeping drugs on them.

“I took one of the biscuits and gave the rest to him, which he took and ate. Soon after, he slept off. I then took his key and left with the key. I drove the vehicle to Kano State and I sold it to one Abdulrahman for N600,000.”

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Punch reports that Ibrahim's undoing was his last victim's phones which he reportedly gave to his mother-in-law, and the other to his sister-in-law, who knew nothing about his criminal activities.

The phones were tracked and in no time, the suspect's in-laws were located, who in turn, led the police to Ibrahim.

According to the police, Ibrahim will be charged to the court upon the completion of the ongoing investigation.