Police detectives in Lagos State have smashed a gang which specialised in posing as patients to get access into hospitals and rob genuine patients and staff. The suspects, Babatunde Bamidele (25) and Muritala Balogun (27), were arrested at Ajangbadi area of the state on Wednesday, moments after they robbed a hospital.
Revealing their modus operandi, Bamidele said: “Before we go out on operation, we would dress the body of one of our members with bandage. When we get to the gate of the prospective hospital, the supposed ‘sick person’ would start crying loudly.
Others would start calling for emergency. Immediately we are allowed into the hospital, we would whip out our guns and rob the patients. We would rob them of money and other valuables. We don’t kill people.
We only collect money and phones.” The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said the suspects used to pretend they were patients to gain access into the hospital to rob genuine patients of their valuables.
Bamidele confessed that he was introduced to the robbery gang by Ahmed, now at large. He said: “I used to pick pocket until I met Ahmed. He advised me to abandon that. He said it was not profitable.
Before I started going out with them, they trained me for a week.” Recalling how the gang met its waterloo, Bamidele said they had just robbed patients and were racing to leave the scene when they ran into a police patrol van. He added:
“The policemen were on patrol when they heard shouts of thief coming from the direction of the hospital. They ran after us. Ahmed and others escaped. Muritala and I were arrested. “Since I joined the gang, we have robbed about five different hospitals at Ajangbadi, Shibiri and other parts of the community. I regret my actions.
My parents must not hear I was arrested for armed robbery.” Narrating his own side of the story, Balogun said he was tricked into going with the gang to rob patients. He said: “I was also into pick pocket until I met Ahmed.
I was at home when Ahmed called me. He said I should go with them to visit a friend at the hospital. I obliged. We both went to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, I was surprised to hear Bamidele scream like he was in pains. Ahmed and others called for emergency.
I didn’t go with them into the hospital. I waited outside. After a while, they came out with many phones and some other things. Immediately we left the hospital, policemen who were on patrol accosted us. They arrested me and Bamidele.”
