Two men nabbed for ‘robbing’ pastor in Lagos

The police in Lagos at the weekend arrested two suspected armed robbers identified as Danteni Abubakar (24), and Paul Bassey (25).

The suspects were arrested around Victoria Garden City (VGC) on the Lekki-Epe expressway by Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives.

They were said to have met their waterloo around 6:00am on Saturday, after Bassey held one Pastor David Oriaki hostage in his car.

The Nation gathered that Bassey had pleaded with the cleric to give him a ride, but after entering the car, he pointed a gun at him, commanding him on the routes to pass.

But Oriaki told The Nation that upon sighting the policemen after he had passed the toll gate, he slammed the brake, diverted his vehicle and shouted for help.

“It was around 6:00am on Saturday. The young man entered my car around VGC round about and the next thing, he pointed a gun at me. He asked me to drive towards a particular direction.

“But by that time I have put my car on the E-tag at the toll gate. I was hoping I will see these policemen that are usually not far from there. The barricade was not opening and so, he told me to reverse my car. As I was about to reverse, the barricade opened and he told me to drive straight.

“I was just praying and trying to buy time. I was driving fast too and he told me to make a U-turn but I told him I cannot just be turning like that especially on the speed I was driving.

“At this point, he has searched me, collected my phone and money and was still pointing his gun at me.

“Eventually along the road, I sighted some RRS operatives from a distance. I just slammed my brakes and diverted towards them. I hurriedly ran out of the car and screamed for help.

“He did not see them initially. When I ran out, he wanted to pursue me. Then, he saw them and escaped but they immediately chased him.

“Two RRS vehicles pursued him. One of them was marked 187, I do not know the number on the other one. He crossed the road and they chased him and caught him.

“I am really impressed by the actions of the policemen. They were very responsive and saved me from the criminal,” he said.