The suspects, who robbed veteran Nigerian comedian, Basketmouth, at gun point at his residence in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, on September 7 have been arrested.
The comedian was in company of his family when unknown gunmen broke into his home and carted away valuables.
They were paraded before newsmen at the state Police Command headquarters, Ikeja on Saturday.
Twenty-four-year old Chibuzor Ugwu, the suspected leader of the three-man gang confessed, saying “Anytime I come to Lagos, I take my gang to vandalise vehicles and steal auto parts. We normally targeted Toyota and Honda vehicles.
“But the day we robbed Basketmouth’s house, we had operated on some vehicles in the area that day. We then peeped into a compound and saw a very nice car. When we gained access into the compound, we realised we could make more money by robbing the occupants of the house.
“We then used a bolt cutter to enter through the kitchen. It was when we entered the house that we realised that it was Basketmouth’s house. We saw the pictures of him and his family on the wall,” Ugwu said, adding that he had done nothing else than internet fraud and robbery since he left secondary school.
Speaking further, the Enugu State indigene living in Anambra State said he pointed a gun he was holding at the comedian and told him to cooperate.
According to him, they were shocked the comedian told them he had no cash at home.
Ugwu said, “We thought we were going to find millions of naira at the house. He was begging us not to hurt his family. He said he did not keep cash at home. But we told him to cooperate so that we would just operate peacefully and leave.
“We searched the whole apartment and found nothing. We only got a $200 note in his wallet along with the mobile phones in the house which he handed to us.
“Eventually we left with the little we could find, we were not ready to hurt him because it was clear he was telling the truth when we searched everywhere and found no money.
“We sold the phones to a friend, Osama at the Computer Village in Ikeja and the gun I took to the operation was purchased for N80,000 in Benue State.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects, said they would be charged to court soon.
The comedian was in company of his family when unknown gunmen broke into his home and carted away valuables.
They were paraded before newsmen at the state Police Command headquarters, Ikeja on Saturday.
Twenty-four-year old Chibuzor Ugwu, the suspected leader of the three-man gang confessed, saying “Anytime I come to Lagos, I take my gang to vandalise vehicles and steal auto parts. We normally targeted Toyota and Honda vehicles.
“But the day we robbed Basketmouth’s house, we had operated on some vehicles in the area that day. We then peeped into a compound and saw a very nice car. When we gained access into the compound, we realised we could make more money by robbing the occupants of the house.
“We then used a bolt cutter to enter through the kitchen. It was when we entered the house that we realised that it was Basketmouth’s house. We saw the pictures of him and his family on the wall,” Ugwu said, adding that he had done nothing else than internet fraud and robbery since he left secondary school.
Speaking further, the Enugu State indigene living in Anambra State said he pointed a gun he was holding at the comedian and told him to cooperate.
According to him, they were shocked the comedian told them he had no cash at home.
Ugwu said, “We thought we were going to find millions of naira at the house. He was begging us not to hurt his family. He said he did not keep cash at home. But we told him to cooperate so that we would just operate peacefully and leave.
“We searched the whole apartment and found nothing. We only got a $200 note in his wallet along with the mobile phones in the house which he handed to us.
“Eventually we left with the little we could find, we were not ready to hurt him because it was clear he was telling the truth when we searched everywhere and found no money.
“We sold the phones to a friend, Osama at the Computer Village in Ikeja and the gun I took to the operation was purchased for N80,000 in Benue State.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspects, said they would be charged to court soon.