Ghanaian man arrested in Lagos for renting out guns to robbers

A Ghanaian, John Kojo, 22 has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly supplying a locally-made pistol to a suspected robber in the Morogbo, Badagry area of the state.

Kojo was arrested on Saturday when a robbery suspect, Banhusa Abujuny, identified the Ghanaian as the owner of the gun he (Abujuny) allegedly used for robbery.

The duo was being detained by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. The police said the gun was “stolen from another robbery gang.”

Punch Metro reports that on Friday, October 7, some armed robbers came to Kojo’s area in Morogbo and unleashed terror on the residents.

Some residents put distress calls across to the police, while some vigilance group members mobilised against the robbers. As the robbers fled, they abandoned the pistol, while Kojo, who was reportedly around the scene, picked and hid the weapon.

According to the police, Kojo later gave the gun to Abujuny to rob. Kojo, however, said that he hid the gun abandoned by the robbers, adding that he was afraid to turn it in to the police. The Ghanaian said he was not aware that his friend, Abujuny, took the gun from his house.

He said, “I got the gun after the robbers, who attacked Oko Afo, fled. The robbers came to our area and were moving from house to house. Some residents confronted them and they fled. I was one of those who chased the robbers.

“As they fled, they left one of the guns by the roadside and I picked it. I brought the gun home and hid it. I did not give the weapon to the police because I was afraid. I did not show the gun to anyone. Abujuny is my friend. He did not tell me that he had taken the gun. I was at home last week Saturday when SARS officers came and arrested me.”

Abujuny, who said he had not robbed with the gun, stated that he was arrested during a street fight in the Alaba Market, Ojo.

He said, “I had yet to rob with the gun. There was a fight in the Alaba Market on Friday and I threatened someone with the gun.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigation.