Bewitched: 'My Family Placed a 'Robbery' Curse on Me

                              
A suspected armed robber, arrested by the police in Lagos, has claimed that his family members were responsible for his inability to stop the act.

Reporters learnt that the suspect, 28-year-old Emehelu Ndubuisi, was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday, November 19 in the Oshodi area of Lagos.
Our correspondent gathered that Ndubuisi, who hails from Enugu State, was arrested alongside one Uche Chukwu ─ another 21-year-old suspect from Ikwere, Rivers State.

The police accused the duo of belonging to an armed robbery syndicate which allegedly snatched cars and terrorised motorists in the Lagos metropolis.

Ndubuisi, who is married with a child, said he was still standing trial for a robbery case at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court when he was re-arrested for another robbery.

He added that after securing the bail granted to him, he went to his village in Enugu State for his grandmother’s burial, where he suspected that his family members had placed a robbery spell on him.

He said, “I am standing trial in court for a robbery case. I used to sell motor spare parts at the Ladipo Market, Oshodi. I was initially arrested by the police in February this year, and was charged to the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.

I was remanded in the Kirikiri Medium Prison for some weeks during which I met one convict, Ogaga. He had spent three years in the prison. He told me some men wanted to sell a stolen vehicle, but I did not listen to him.

After I secured my bail, I went to my village to attend my grandmother’s burial and I noticed some family members were not happy to see me. When I returned from the trip, I did not know how I listened to Ogaga’s advice.

I had sworn never to rob again, but my village people are very evil. They must have charmed me with robbery. It was at the point of collecting the stolen vehicle in Lagos that the police re-arrested me.”

The second suspect, Uche, said his father had died as a retired civil servant in Jos, and he came to Lagos to fend for himself.

He said, “My mother still stays in Jos and works as a teacher in a private secondary school.

I was working as a security man in Yaba.

But I was sacked some months back and I was squatting with a friend in Oshodi where I met the gang.

I have gone with them on two operations. I was given N15,000 the first time. I was caught after the second.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, while confirming the arrest, said investigations were ongoing to get other gang members.

He said, “Yes, they are in custody, and investigations are ongoing on the matter.”