Robbers Attack Fuel Station Manager, Snatch N6.8m

Eight gunmen have ambushed a fuel station manager in the Morogbo area of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. They reportedly stole N6.8m, which was the proceeds from fuel sale for the day. Our correspondent learnt that the assailants also shot their victim, identified only as Adewale, in the left arm before making away with the money. PUNCH Metro learnt that the manager was attacked inside his Toyota Camry while taking the money to a bank. According to the police, Adewale was the
manager of De-Sholly Petroleum in the Morogbo area. It was gathered that the gang, which came on four motorcycles, armed themselves with four locally-made cut-to-size double-barrelled guns. Our correspondent learnt that a worker in the petrol station, who had been arrested by the police, was the informant for the gang. The gunmen were said to have converged on a motor park in the Agbara area, where they planned the operation. They were also said to have driven their motorcycles to a place near the filling station, disguising as commercial motorcyclists. Our correspondent gathered that when Adewale drove out of the filling station, they waylaid and shot him. In a bid to escape from his attackers, the manager reportedly knocked down two of the motorcycles and the riders. But the money, kept in a schoolbag, was eventually snatched by the others who swooped on him. It was learnt that the matter was reported at the Morogbo Police Division before it was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Our correspondent gathered that two suspected members of the gang, Ayodele Ogunbiyi and Olalekan Oladipupo, had been arrested by the police. They were reportedly arrested from their hideout in the Iyana Oba area on Wednesday, April 7. Ogunbiyi, 30, told PUNCH Metro that he was invited for the operation by Webo, who he claimed to be the gang’s leader. Ogunbiyi, who hails from Badagry, Lagos State, added that he got N430,000 as his share and used it for his son’s naming ceremony. He said, “Webo is a notorious robber. He was the one who called me on the phone that he had a job for us. He was the one who knew the informant. “He brought the four guns that we used. When we finished the operation, he took us to a hideout in the Igando area. He gave me N430, 000. “I used the money for my child’s naming ceremony. My wife had put to bed a few days to the time we robbed. It was when I called Webo to borrow some money that he suggested the operation to me. Our correspondent learnt that Ogunbiyi, when he learnt that the police were on his trail, fled from home to evade arrest. He was eventually arrested in Iyana Iba. Oladipupo, 28, from the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos, said he got N410, 000 from Webo. He added that he was given a gun and three cartridges for the operation. He said, “I was one of the two robbers that the manager knocked down. When I stood up, I shot at the windscreen of his car, but not at his body. “I was the one who took the schoolbag containing the cash and two blackberry phones. Our correspondent learnt that the police were intensifying efforts to apprehend other fleeing gang members. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, promised to get back to our correspondent. He, however, had yet to do so as of press time.