Though the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) was charged with the responsibility of waging war against drug trafficking and drug peddlling, in an attempt to ensure security of lives and property, the agency recently arrested a 35-year-old farmer, who was described as one of the notorious armed robbers who have been terrorising residents of Saki in Oyo State.The suspect, Nathaniel Odey, who hails from Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, while speaking with Crime & Security from his detention base in Ibadan, claimed that he was never an armed robber but a farmer.He said he had a large farmland of yam and other food items, but he could not explain why he was still in possession of a revolver and other ammunitions months after collecting them from a Fulani herdsman.Odey who was arrested on December 15, 2010 along Kishi-Saki road, said he was on his way to the farm on errand by one of his brothers when he was arrested by officials of the NDLEA who accused him of trying to attack them.According to him, his immediate brothers had sent him on errand to inform a customer that there were some yam tubers for sale.The suspect who claimed that he was with his brother-in-law who was on a visit when he was arrested said they were on a motorcycle when suddenly they were stopped by the NDLEA officials and after interrogation, he was arrested while his brother-in law escaped into the bush.He debunked the claim that they were trailing the NDLEA officials, saying that we were going on our own without any ulterior motive.On how he came across the revolver the suspect said that he took it from a Fulani herdsman who had raided his farm when he was away for three months.He said he had travelled to Benue State and on arrival, he discovered that cows had wrecked havoc on the farm, destroying farm produces worth thousands of naira.He added that he had waited patiently for the Fulani herdsman to return and when he came, he engaged him in a fight during which he forcefully collected the revolver from him.After the fight, he said the matter was reported at the police station for settlement. At the end of the day, the police assisted me by collecting N50, 000 from the Fulani herdsman for the farm produce destroyed by his cows, he added.He said that after the settlement, he refused to give the revolver to the police as he was warned by neighbours that the Fulani herdsman could still attack him, so I decided to keep the gun for self defence.True to their warnings, the Fulani herdsman came to attack me inside the farm during which I sustained injuries and I was later treated, he said.On what he had been doing with the revolver since the time he was taken from the Fulani herdsman six months ago, the suspect said he had never used it for anything not to talk of armed robbery.The suspect who regretted that the gun was not given to the police said: the mistake I made was my failure to give the gun to the police but I thought I could use it to protect myself whenever the Fulani herdsman came to attack me.He pleaded with the NDLEA officials to temper justice with mercy and release him to go as a free man.Speaking on the arrest of the suspect by officials of the NDLEA, the state Commander, Mr Suleiman Jadi, said the suspect used to be one of the armed robbers who had been terrorising commuters and motorists plying Kishi-Saki road.He disclosed that the suspect was arrested while trying to rob the agencys officials along the road. The suspect along with another while on motorcycle had been trailing the NDLEA officials, waiting for an opportunity to attack them. After a long time of trailing, the officials decided to stop and see who they were, he said.He added that immediately their vehicle was parcked, the suspect also parked his motorcycle and when they discovered that one of the NDLEA officials was carrying arm, the other man sitting at the back of the motorcycle ran inside the bush.When one of the officials came down from the vehicle; the other man sitting at the back of the motorcycle jumped down and ran away when he discovered that the official was carrying a gun. The NDLEA officials had to rush the suspect and got him arrested before he could run away, he said.On interrogation he said it was discovered that there was nothing to show that the suspect was a farmer. He said items recovered from him included a revolver two live ammunition, fez cap mask, two expanded shells, and charms. He said that the suspect would be handed over to the state police command for further interrogation.
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