A truck mechanic apprentice, Olalekan Ibrahim, who was among the suspects recently paraded by the Oyo State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for stealing, went off guard during the interview, as he said that the crime preceded his birth and, so, was not a new or strange phenomenon.
The 25-year-old suspect gave the answer when asked why he chose to steal, despite his previous disclosure about being religious and attending prayer vigils.
Ibrahim was arrested with his friend and namesake, Olalekan Akinpelu, for stealing spare parts of trucks in shops within their neighbourhood.
The Oyo NSCDC Commandant. Augustine Padonu, while briefing journalists on the arrest of the suspects, disclosed how the two suspects invaded shops at Sagbe, Moniya area of Ibadan, to steal spare parts while wearing masks.
Recovered from them were a Tipper gear selector, a cap gear, a gear flag and eight belts.
Responding to questions from the Nigerian Tribune, Ibrahim said: “I’m a truck mechanic apprentice. What happened was that robbers snatched a friend’s motorcycle from me on January 3, a little after 5 a.m., on my way from a prayer vigil on Akinyele Road.
“I was taken to Moniya police station. When the owner came the following day, I pleaded with him to give me till February 14 for me to pay for the bike.
“I went to my friend, Olalekan and asked him to help by joining me to steal some motor spare parts. I knew about the motor parts being kept where we went as an apprentice.
“We went for the operation and succeeded. We went to hide them somewhere and he was on his way when he was stopped. I heard it from someone me that when my friend was being questioned, he mentioned my name.
“I sent three of my friends to the spot to find out what was happening. When they got there, they saw Olalekan and came to tell me of the situation. I went there with them, believing that I could talk to the guys there. However, on my getting there, the youths started beating the two of us.”
When asked why he decided to steal to pay for the snatched motorcycle, the suspect said that he had no other way to turn than doing that. According to him, “We met stealing in the world (Aye la ba).”
The second suspect, Akinpelu, also aged 25, said: “I am from Oyo town but I live in Ibadan. I’m a battery charger.
“In January, my friend, Ibrahim, took the bike of one of his friends to a Muslim prayer meeting. He said that on his way back home, he was waylaid by robbers who snatched the motorcycle and went away with it.
“The owner however took him to a police station and Ibrahim promised to start looking for money which he said would be paid by February 14. Unfortunately, he didn’t get any money. He also asked those he went to the prayer with about the snatched motorcycle but they didn’t respond.
“That was how he came to me and said that I should go with him to a place where we would steal motor spare parts. He said he would be able to pay the bike owner from the proceed so that he would not be taken back to police station.
“After 12 midnight, we went to an area in Sagbe where we also live and which is close to Moniya, to steal gear parts of trailer from shops where they were being sold. We hid them in a bushy area along Ibadan-Oyo expressway.
“At dawn, on my way home, I was stopped by some youths in the neighbourhood. They had complained of the way residents were being disturbed by armed robbers and burglars.
“I was asked where I was coming from, and I opened up to them and asked to be covered, as we did it because of the need to pay for the snatched motorcycle. However, I was beaten before being handed over to the NSCDC.”
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