17-yr-old robber says girlfriend forced him into crime

A 17-year-old armed robber suspect, Uchenna Ikwuegbe, has confessed to operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Enugu State Police Command, that pressure from his girlfriend forced him into a life of crime.

The teenager had allegedly led a gang to hoodlums to raid residents of Maryland axis of Enugu town when his luck ran out and he was arrested.

The Odidi-Abatete, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State born teenager was arrested with a locally-made pistol, cut to seize with two live cartridges.

In his confession, Ikwuegbe said:

The suspect said:

"The urge to meet up with the demands from my girlfriend, Chinaza, living at Uwani axis of Enugu, propelled me into robbery. I acquired the gun from a timber mill at Maryland.

I had acquired the gun to unleash robbery attacks on residents of Maryland in order to dispossess them of their valuables.

I was on the verge of carrying out the act when the operatives swooped on me. I do not know how they knew I was carrying a gun. I am so ashamed of myself now. I do not know what led me into this.

My parents are crying their hearts out over this incident. They are so disappointed in me. I want to call on teenagers like me to shun robbery and other nefarious activities because the security operatives are always watching."