I needed money for diabetes drug – Ex-convict nabbed in botched robbery

There was no doubt that 22-year-old Torhole Philip was ill. His bare chest was a map of protruding ribs straining against his scarred skin.

Philip, who was paraded for attempted armed robbery by the police in Lagos recently, explained that he was suffering from diabetes and did not want to die.

He told our correspondent that he was once jailed for armed robbery and car snatching few years ago and got out of prison in July 2015.

“I got out of prison and could not find a job. I was dying and had nothing to eat. I was lucky to find a locally made gun where someone hid it around our neighbourhood in Ebute Metta,” Philip said.

He was about to use the gun in a robbery along with his friend when he was nabbed by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad at Iganmu area of Lagos.

Philip told our correspondent he found the gun around the railway line at Ebute Metta, Lagos.

“My diabetes worsened when I was in prison. When I got out, I went to a doctor at a clinic in Ebute Metta and the doctor billed me N17,000,” the Benue State-born suspect said.

As Philip spoke, he swayed on his feet, as if he was about to collapse anytime, so our correspondent told him to sit.

He explained that he realised he could not undertake a robbery alone, so he informed a friend, 20-year-old Abiodun Salufu, who agreed to follow him.

He said they boarded a bus with the intention of robbing the driver.

“I had the gun in my pocket and just wanted to wait till other passengers got down before I pointed it to the driver and ask for all his money. But before we could do that, the RRS double-crossed our vehicle and searched us. I did not know they had been trailing us before,” Philip said.

The suspect said he did not intend to hurt anyone with the gun but merely wanted to make a living.

Salufu and another friend, 26-year-old Idris Sulaimon, who were also paraded along with Philip each denied participating in the robbery.

Philip insisted that Salufu was his accomplice while Sulaimon also corroborated it.

I was at home when they (Philip and Salufu) were discussing the issue of the gun. They are both my friends. I know nothing about their crime but he (Salufu) went with him to rob.

“Abey (Salufu) asked for the gun and told him to let them sell it. But Philip said that he did not want to sell it because they still needed it. Later that day, they told me they were going to Ijeshatedo to rob and I told them good luck,” Sulaimon said.

The police have said the suspects would be charged to court soon.