The Lagos State Police
Command has arrested a suspected armed robbery kingpin, Obinna Okorie,
who claimed that he did not get married because he wanted to escape
being caught by the police.
Our correspondent learnt that 33-year-old Okorie, who hails from Omo, Anambra State, allegedly sponsored many armed robbery gangs that hijacked trucks in several parts of the country.
It was further gathered that Okorie had been on the wanted list of most
state and federal police formations in the country, after many of his
robbery gangs were apprehended by the police, but the suspects failed to
give away his location.
Okorie, it was learnt, was arrested by
operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Command,
along Ukpor Expressway in Onitsha, Anambra State.
During
interrogation, Okorie said he was formerly a dealer in used canvas shoes
from Cameroon to Nigeria before he took to organising robbery gangs to
hijack trucks.
He said, “I was living in Awka, Anambra State.
It was when my dad died in 1997 that I stopped primary education and I
started business. I was supplying ‘Tokunbo’ canvas shoes and clothes
from Cameroon to Nigeria. I am the fifth child in my family.
“It is true that I have some robbery gangs that I sent for operations. I
started this in 2006. But it is not all of the gangs that were actually
working for me. A few of them just used my name to rob. I have three
warehouses; they are in Kano, Onitsha and Cameroon. Among the stolen
trucks are two 40-feet containers of motor tyres, industrial chemicals
and home appliances.
“I had an organised syndicate which made
it impossible for the police to reach me directly. At 33, I chose not to
get married because I did not want to get caught by the police. I knew
that there was no wedding I would do without the police getting to know
about it. I knew they could come to arrest me because I was wanted all
over by them.”
Okorie, our correspondent learnt, was arrested
after several complaints had reached the former Lagos State Commissioner
of Police, Umar Manko, about truck robbery activities in which all the
suspects named Okorie as their sponsor.
This prompted Manko to direct the SARS, led by Abba Kyari, to go after the suspected robbery kingpin.
The police said that Okorie was arrested shortly after one of his closest business partners was caught in Onitsha.
Our correspondent gathered that the SARS had initially planned more than 10 operations to arrest Okorie, but they failed.
The police further revealed that Okorie had been a receiver of stolen goods worth several millions of naira.
Our correspondent learnt that the police were able to recover 15
containers whose contents ranged from electronics, refrigerators to home
theatres.
It was gathered that the suspected robbers,
allegedly sponsored by Okorie, were armed with weapons and patrolled the
highways on the pretext that they were task force officials. But after
the truck drivers had stopped, it was gathered that the gang would then
intercept the goods and send the workers fleeing into the bushes.
Our correspondent learnt that some of these gangs were led by one
Timothy, who is now late, and Sunday Oscar, who is now serving a jail
term at Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos.
After Okorie’s arrest,
the police said they recovered six trucks and buses used by his gangs.
While three were recovered from Itire area, Lagos, the others were taken
from FESTAC Town, and Kirikiri areas of the state.
When
contacted for comments, the Lagos State Deputy Police Public Relations
Officer, Lelma Kolle, confirmed the arrest of Okorie, adding that the
suspect would be charged to court after investigation.
He said,
“Okorie has been wanted by the Lagos State Police Command for about 13
years. The suspect is a notorious sponsor of armed robbers who dealt in
hijacking trucks. Some of the robberies took place in Apapa, Lagos and
other parts of the country, from where the goods were then moved to the
South-East where Okorie’s warehouse is located.
“He has
warehouses in Onitsha, Kano and in Cameroon where he diverted most of
the stolen goods. He was arrested by the SARS with the help of the
Interpol in Cameroon. As soon as investigations are concluded, he will
be charged to court.”
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