Robber Exposes Herbalist Giving Information To Robbery Gangs In Lagos

A suspected robber, Segun Taiwo, has disclosed how a
herbalist gave him information on how rob an 81-year-
old woman. According to Taiwo, the herbalist, who was
treating the woman’s daughter, cunningly got
information from his patient about her mother’s wealth
and residence, and then gathered robbers to attack.
On the day Taiwo and his accomplice attacked the old
woman’s home; they carted away $10,000, £5,000,
N100,000 and a box containing assorted jewellery.
The old woman’s home was robbed at the weekend, at
about 8p.m. The woman’s call for help alerted operatives
of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos, who were
on patrol. They arrested Taiwo, while his accomplice
escaped. When police went for the herbalist, it was
discovered that he had fled his lair.
The woman was robbed on Oduduwa Street, Itire, Lagos.
Taiwo said that he was invited to partake in the robbery
by the herbalist, identified simply as Demola. Taiwo
noted that the man promised to share whatever loot they
were able to get from the woman’s apartment 50-50.
He said:
“The mastermind is a herbalist. He was treating the
woman’s daughter (name withheld), who had a sore in
her right foot. Whenever the patient visits him for
treatment, he would ask her for information about her
mother.
“Unknown to the patient, he was collecting all necessary
descriptions and information needed to carry out the
robbery. After a while, he told me that we have a special
operation. He added that his patient must not be aware
because we were going to their house to rob her
mother.”
Taiwo said that the herbalist knew the exact description
of the woman’s apartment, time to attack and the exact
place she kept her money and valuables. He added: “We
carried out the robbery successfully. We gained entry
into the two-storey building and headed straight to the
old woman’s flat.
From our preliminary investigation, we got to know that
the first flat, opposite the entrance gate was hers. We
went straight inside the flat without any stress. We met
the old woman. She sat on a mat in the sitting room,
praying. We dragged and threatened her with machete
and axe.
We told her to surrender all her belongings, including
foreign currencies or else we would waste her life.”
Taiwo said the old woman cooperated with them and
handed over a bag filled with both Nigerian and foreign
currencies. The state Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, said that the command was
making effort to arrest the gang leader.
[NAN]