Suspected criminal tags an innocent man returning from prayer as his gang member....SEE PHOTO

Firstclass newsline learnt that 23-year-old Adekambi was arrested
while he was returning from a morning prayer at a mosque in the
Ajangbadi area of Lagos.
It was learnt that on Saturday, May 2, 2015, a gang of robbers
stormed the area at about 1.30am and unleashed terror on the residents
for about an hour.
Firstclass newsline crew learnt that a vigilance group in the area
confronted the gang, which had about six members, and arrested
Adekeye. The other gang members reportedly escaped.
The following day, members of the vigilance group were said to have
arrested Adekambi.
It was gathered that Adekeye told the vigilance group members that
Adekambi was one of the gang members.
The duo was reportedly handed over to the police.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Adekeye also told the police at
Ajangbadi that Adekambi was a gang member. The case was subsequently
transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further
investigation.
Adekeye from Isin, Kwara State, said he lied to the police about
Adekambi's involvement because he did not want to rot in jail alone.
He, however, begged Adekambi to forgive him for making him suffer in detention.
He said, "We are six in the gang, but I was the only one that was
arrested on that day. Others ─ Lekan, Biodun, Aloma and two others; I
don't know their names ─ escaped. While in Ajangbadi, I lied to the
police that Adekambi was an accomplice.
"Aloma, a cobbler in Suru Alaba, called me on the phone and asked me
to meet him in the Ilogbo, Ajangbadi area. I met him and others at a
hemp smoking joint.
"They brought three cutlasses and three wooden batons. I took one of
the wooden batons.
"We went to Orisa Street, and stayed in an uncompleted building till
about 1am. At about 1.30am, we went to our victim's house. The man and
his family cooperated with us, until we cut him with a cutlass. He
then let out a scream which attracted people in the neighbourhood.
"So, the vigilance members came and everybody fled. I was caught and
handed over to the police.
"When they brought Tunde (Adekambi) later, I lied that he was a gang
member. At SARS too, I initially insisted that Tunde was one of us
because I did not want to be punished alone. But after a few days, I
decided to tell the truth. So, I told the police that Tunde was
innocent.
"I did not know why I implicated him. I knew the police would torture
a suspected robber, but I did not want to go through it alone. Our
usual operation is to use motorcycles to snatch peoples' bags."
Adekambi, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, said he was shocked for
being named as a member of the robbery gang.
He said, "On that fateful day, I had just finished prayer and was
coming back home at about 7am when some people on a motorcycle stopped
beside me. They were members of a vigilance group.
"They asked me what I was doing there and I explained that I was
returning from the mosque. They did not believe me. They tore my
shirt, calling me an armed robber. When we got to where Ahmed
(Adekeye) was handcuffed, he told them that I was a member of the
gang. That was the beginning of my ordeal.
"I was detained at the station for three days and transferred to SARS.
I am still in shock, but I have forgiven him. I do not have an
option."
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the
incident. He added that Adekambi had been released.
He said,"After investigation, we discovered that Adekambi was
innocent, and the suspect did not know him from Adam.
Firstclassnewsline.net