Fuel price hike pushed me into armed robbery — 29-year-old driver opens up

VAM News Update

A 29-year-old Bolt driver, Jeremiah Adeniran, who was arrested by the Police operatives in Lagos State for robbing some of his passengers has blamed the act on the recent increase in the fuel pump price.

The suspect was on Friday paraded before newsmen by the Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin.

According to the police, the suspect was trying to sell some of the items that were robbed from his victims when he was identified by one of them who raised the alarm that led to his arrest.

The suspect, while talking to newsmen, confessed to the crime, adding that it was due to the sharp decrease in the number of trips that he goes daily as a result of the fuel price hike.

Adeniran said, “Before I can do 15 trips a day but after the skyrocket in fuel price, my business was no longer moving as I wanted, so I venture into robbery.”

According to him, his two other accomplices, who were taking part in the robbery hanged around the road to the destination of his passengers.

The suspect said, “On Saturday morning, I entered a shop and I saw the lady I picked up and robbed a day before, she instantly recognised me because I was not putting on a nose mask.”

He added that, “She raised alarm and that was how I was arrested and taken to Ikotun police station,”

Adeniran, who claimed to have participated in “just three robbery operations” confessed to have made about #700, 000 (seven hundred thousand naira).

“It was not my plan initially to engage in such, just that I do not have a choice but now I regret involving in robbery,” the suspect said.

SP Hundeyin told newsmen that “A lady, who was going to Lagos Island from Ikotun booked a ride and she was picked at Governor’s road, Ikotun.

“On their way, the driver pretended that he had a flat tyre, parked the car and alighted.

“Shortly, other members of his gang surfaced and took over the steering while the driver was made to sit at the back.

“Police operatives painstakingly embarked on investigation that led to the arrest of the suspect at BRT market Ikotun while selling the robbed items.” the Police spokesperson.