A suspected Mushin robbery gang leader, Shakiru Sanni, 31, a.k.a. Osama bin Laden, has been arrested by the operatives at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, at Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island, southwest Nigeria.
According to the police, Sanni, who has been arraigned in court and remanded in prison custody, has been on the run since 2009 after he allegedly led others now in prison custody to rob and kill four persons.
The suspect was arraigned before an Igbosere magistrate’s court on a 6-count charge of felony to wit, armed robbery, murder, terrorising victims and unlawful possession of firearms.
Investigation by the police revealed that the accused, who had been on the wanted list of the police for the past three years, was arrested for allegedly killing four persons and robbing others.
Some of the gang’s victims, the police said, included a 9-year girl identified as Lateef Aminat who was killed on 7 December, 2010; Shina Ajah, shot dead on 22 September, 2010, and Adedeji Adenuga who was killed on 22 February, 2009.
The police further stated that Sanni was mentioned as the leader of the Mushin robbery gang by Lukmon Lawal a.k.a. Oko and Monsuru Ibrahim a.k.a. Danglish, now in prison custody for the same offences.
They revealed this during their interrogation by the police after they were arrested last year with one AK-47 rifle, one pump action shot gun and one AK-47 live bullet.
The police prosecutor, Supol Jayeoba Oloruntoba said the offences committed by the accused contravened sections 6 (b) of the robbery and firearms (special provisions) act laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004, and sections 231, 221, 401 (2) of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.
The plea of the accused was not taken because the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter. The magistrate, Mrs. O.O.A. Fowowe ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the office of the directorate of public prosecution, DPP, on the matter.
She adjourned the case for mention.