I escorted my friend to the house, didn’t know he would rob – suspect

Lagos state police have arrested a 23 year-old young man from Imo state. He was recently re- arrested for armed robbery just few months after gaining freedom from prison. Chijioke Samson was the only suspect that detectives were able to apprehend after receiving a distress call that a woman was being robbed in her home. The suspect was nabbed a street away from the crime scene while trying to flee.

The suspect, Samson, who is claiming not to be part of the four- man gang that went for the robbery operation, said he met with one of his childhood friend after returning to Lagos from his village where he had gone to recuperate after gaining freedom from prison and that it was his friend he escorted to the crime scene not knowing that he was going to rob.

“I went to my village to re-establish myself back into the normal world and came back to Lagos about two months ago, that was when I met my childhood friend and I promised to visit him soon. The day I went to pay him a visit, on 2nd of April, he bought me a drink and asked me to escort him and his other two friends to governor’s road in Ikotun area of Lagos on Monday 3rd and since I wasn’t doing anything, I agreed to go with them.

“When we got there, I was asked to wait outside to check if the person they wanted to visit was at home, not knowing that they were actually going to commit armed robbery. It was when they all ran outside and went different directions that I knew something had gone wrong and I also took to my heels but was apprehended by the police and I have told detectives that I will take them to where my friend lives so that he can confirm that I am not part of his gang and didn’t know they were going.” Samson narrated.

Samson also explained how he ended up in prison; “I used to be a conductor and I was on my way to meet my driver at the Ikotun Park when I saw people running and without really knowing why they were running, I took to my heels too and was apprehended by a police patrol team who turned deaf ears to my explanation that I am not a thief but a conductor and was charged to court even after searching and only found my phone on me.

“I was charged to court by the police and was remanded in prison for about four months before I was discharged and acquitted by the judge. It was when I left the prison that I went to my village and came back to Lagos to start my conductor work again before my friend come put me in this trouble.” He said.