PUNCH Metro learnt
that Akeem and Sodiq, along with two others still at large, had picked the
victim, Mercy (pseudonym) from the Obalende area, and were supposed to head for
the Victoria Island where the victim reportedly had a job interview.
It was gathered that Mercy, who hails from Otupko, Benue State,
and holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education, on March 10, had been called by
a friend to attend the job interview.
It was learnt that the suspects allegedly diverted to the Costain,
Iponri area, assuring their victim that they were only taking a different route
to the island.
When the bus got to Costain, under the bridge, the four allegedly
robbed Mercy of her Automated Teller Machine card, her purse and other
documents. The suspects also allegedly raped the lady before driving off.
It was learnt that after the robbery, the victim went to report
the matter at the Iponri Police Division.
PUNCH Metro gathered
that the suspects were not found until last Tuesday when members of a vigilance
group in the area, who were also informed about the matter, nabbed the driver
and his conductor and handed them over to the police.
Speaking with our correspondent, Mary said the suspects confused
her because she was new in Lagos and she was not familiar with most of the
roads.
She said, “On that day, I was at Obalende when my friend called me
that there was a job interview on the Victoria Island. So I entered a bus
heading to the area. Not long after, three men entered as well. The driver
drove towards CMS; when I inquired, the other passengers said I should be calm
as he was still heading for the Island. I thought he was trying to avoid the
traffic.
“When we got to the
bridge in Costain, they stopped and they collected my purse, mobile phone, ATM
card, PIN and N2,000 cash on me. After they left, I told my elder brother that
some men had attacked me.
“He came and we both
went to the Iponri division to make a report, but the robbers had withdrawn
N120,000 through the ATM.”
An executive of the vigilance group, Ishola Musbau, said,
“The case of a jobseeker being raped and robbed by miscreants was
brought to our attention. It took us two weeks to fish out Akeem and Sodiq, and
the victim identified them.
“The driver and the
conductor were apprehended at a hideout in Itumara, Costain, where they usually
gathered for robbery operations.”
Our correspondent gathered that the police were still hunting
other fleeing members of the gang.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that Akeem and
Sodiq had already been charged to a magistrate’s court.
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