A suspected 18-year-old robber, Ayomide, who stabbed a motorcycle rider in the neck from behind, in order take over the bike, disclosed that he had begun a seven-day fasting and prayer to seek God’s forgiveness when he was arrested.

The teenager was arrested by Osun State Police Command over attempted robbery and murder.

At a press briefing held by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe, the injured commercial motorcyclist reported at Iree police station that about 10:30am, Ayomide flagged him down at Eyinade area and asked to be taken to Rainbow area in Iree.

The bike rider, according to the PPRO, told the police that while he was on the way, the passenger suddenly stabbed him deeply with a screw driver on the right of his neck and made efforts to dispossess him of the Bajaj motorcycle.

He added that as he was bleeding, he struggled with the suspect and raised alarm which caught the attention of an oncoming motorcyclist. This, he said, made the suspect to flee to avoid being caught.

The victim said that he was taken to hospital for prompt medical attention by his rescuer who also assured him that the attacker would not go scot free.

“Immediately the case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the detectives applied available investigation mechanism, and on 18th May, the suspect was arrested, SP Opalola stated.

Continuing, PPRO said: “In the course of interrogation, Ayomide confessed to have committed the crime in connivance with one Olusegun Dayo and Ibrahim Ayinde who are still at large.

The suspect, during an interview with newsmen, said that he was in trouble, prompting him to seek a safe haven with his maternal grandmother.

He said:

“I have parents but they are separated. I was not staying with either of them, I was sleeping on the streets or wherever I could lay my head on.

“I’m a commercial motorcyclist but the bike didn’t belong to me. I was usually hired as a rider by the owners to who I would deliver the proceeds to while I would get my own pay.

“I started thinking of how to get my personal bike. The day I attempted it, I had taken alcohol. It is true I stabbed the rider on the neck with a screwdriver. I stopped him to board his bike. When I saw no one on the road, I stabbed him on the neck. After my attempt failed as I saw another bike rider coming, I ran away.

“I went to a mountain where prayers are held to meet my grandmother. I used to sleep in her house sometimes, so I was used to her. I confessed to her what I did and she took me to a prayer mountain in Eripa. I was asked to fast for seven days, but on the fourth day, I left the mountain top and got arrested.”

He confessed that he was a stubborn child and was not staying with his mother who remained single after separation from his father. He disclosed that his mother has six children, with him as the last born.

“My father has no thought for us because he has other wives and children. I regret my action,” the suspect told Saturday Tribune.

The PPRO said that efforts were being made to arrest other gang members at large, adding that the arrested suspect would be charged to court after the completion of investigation.

(Tribune)