BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Operatives of the Bayelsa State Vigilante Service have arrested a tricycle operator who robs unsuspecting passengers of their valuables in Yenagoa.
The 40-year-old old male suspect, identified as Thankgod Godwin, who hails from Oghara in Delta State, was arrested on Monday morning by vigilantes stationed at the popular Tombia-Etegwe roundabout.
According to the state Vigilante Chairman, Doubiye Alagba, the suspect was arrested after he was identified and trailed by a victim whose phone was stolen by the suspect and his gang last week Thursday along the Alamieyeseigha expressway in Yenagoa.
He said the suspect and his accomplice, one Keme, popularly known as Lion who resides in Biogbolo now at large, are specialists in pickpocketing and robbing passengers using a tricycle (Keke).
But luck ran out of them this morning when they were identified by a victim whom they allegedly stole from last week Thursday and he was arrested while his Keke was burnt by a mob.
One of their victims, Stanley Egwe, said “Last week Thursday, along the Alamieyeseigha expressway, I entered their Keke, he was the driver and one of his gang members sat beside me, we agreed that I’m dropping at Akenpai junction, but I was surprised when the driver stopped halfway and said he is not going anymore, that I should come down, but unknowingly to me his accomplice beside me had already stolen my phone.
“This morning, I was on my way work, at Akenpai junction, I saw these same boys inside same keke, I immediately followed them with another tricycle, thinking when we get to Tombia roundabout, I will see a police van at the junction and raise alarm, we got to the junction and there was no police van, I immediately ran into the vehicle of the Bayelsa State Vigilante members stationed there, and they quickly came to my rescue and one of them escaped while the driver was caught.”
Alagba further disclosed that the suspect confessed that he has been in the business of pickpocketing for months, after learning the illegal “business” from Keme who narrowly escaped from the Keke. He also reportedly confessed that they operate on a daily basis.
Four phones and some cash were recovered from the suspect, which according to him was stolen that morning from commuters.
He has been handed over to the Ekeki Division of the Nigeria Police Force in the state capital for further investigation.
