A young man has made a shocking confession about how he survives from day to day in Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos.
File photo
Dapo Simeon, a suspected pickpocket, alongside seven others, was at the weekend arrested by officers of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command.
Simeon, a 27-year-old trained bricklayer from Oyo State, was arrested for allegedly robbing passers-by in Ojota, Ketu, and Mile 12 at night.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the spokesperson of the state Police Command, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the arrests, noting that Simeon and his members confessed to the offence and had given the police useful statement that would assist in their prosecution.
In his confession, the suspect told the Punch that he started as a pickpocket over three years ago before graduating into robbery.
“I specialise in stealing phones, jewellery and money. That’s how I survive. I survive by stealing phones and jewellery
“I can’t remember the number of phones I have stolen and collected from passers-by in Ojota, Ketu and Mile 12.
“I was trained by Olasege and later Femi. Both of them are my bosses; they live in Mushin, Idi – Oro area. They taught me the job.
“I sell all the phones I get at night or the previous day to Baba Iyabo. He comes to Down Blow area in Mile 12 to collect the phones and jewellery very early in the morning,” Simeon added.