Police Uncover Joint Where Notorious Robbers Are Recruited

The operatives of the Lagos State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by CSP Ahmed Sanusi has uncovered a jungle joint at Alaba International market in Ojo Local Government area of Lagos, where robbers are reportedly recruited for operations.

The notorious jungle, known as ‘Alaba Joint’, is located within the Television Line inside Alaba Market.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that inside the place criminal services such as hired assassination, robbery, cult/gang war and other vices are easily cemented.

It was also gathered that cocaine, heroine, Tramadol, skunk and other illicit drugs are readily available.

The Joint also serves as a transit point and money laundering also takes place there.

The discovery followed the arrested of a 28-year old armed robbery suspect, Ifeanyi Ohanuka.

He was arrested with a locally made pistol and he confessed how he and other suspects were recruited into the robbery gang at the joint.

Abia State-born Ohanuka revealed that he was deported from South Africa and out of frustration, he got initiated and he joined the group.

He said he had served jail term in South Africa for drug related offences, was deported and had nothing to fall back on.

According to him, one of his friends, Chidi Okafor introduced him to the group and since then he has actively involved in robbery operations.

He said that all through the time he was into robbery, he was always conscious of the fact that the police will one day catch up with his gang and so he took some measures.

He revealed that one of such measures was that before he went out for operations he usually ate his excreta, which served as protection from any danger and he was still surprised how the police managed to arrest him.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Ohanuka got arrested in a hotel where he was having a good time with a lady friend.

The police stormed the place on a tip off, arrested him and recovered a locally made pistol which he claimed to have bought for N45,000 from one of his gang members.

He regretted that he had not made good money since he started robbery operations and the little money he had realised was spent on drinks and women before his arrest.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the police has intensified efforts to arrest other members of the gang and also interrogate the market union leaders in connection with his confession.

Police source said he will soon be charged to court after the conclusion of Investigation.

When our correspondent visited the joint to confirm what Ohanuka confessed to before the police, it was discovered that place was really a jungle where all manners of brisk businesses were carried out.

Some of the traders who confirmed the existence of such joint, said the market leaders knew about the place but were afraid to do anything because of their safety.

They also alleged that some market leaders had in the past armed some of the hoodlums during the market crisis but they have now become dangerous even to their “Chairmen” as they popularly referred to their leaders.

Efforts to speak with the market leaders proved abortive as none of those around was willing to speak.