My happiness is that I gave my life to God before I met my waterloo— Armed robbery suspect
LIKE the biblical penitent robber at Golgotha who begged Jesus Christ for forgiveness while awaiting execution, Rasaq Salau, a 29 year-old Ogun state born panel beater turned armed robber is now fully conscious of the fact that the end result of criminality is death.
The Moslem turned Christian father of two, who looked well kept but resignedly pensive, almost turned the open ground of the command headquarters; Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to a crusade arena as he preached freely to who ever cared to listen to his sermon of repentance.
Though reports said Rasaq has since joined his ancestors following gun shot injuries he received during a gun battle with a team of anti-robbery squad attached to Ojo Division, he told Crime Guard that he is actually an armed robber but that his greatest joy was that he gave his life to God before his encounter with the police; which of course resulted in his death. To this end, he advised every armed robber to have a change of heart and engage themselves in meaningful and credible means of livelihood.
He said he started armed robbery at age 20 and had operated in five states including Ogun, Oyo Kwara Osun and of course, Lagos where he finally ended his ungodly mission in life. Rasaq who is popularly nicknamed “Praise Jesus” by his inmates in the cell said he left Lagos State about seven months ago when the heat became unbearable for Ilorin where they had robbed passengers on the highways, operated freely at the state capital and suburbs until the environment was no longer safe for them adding that some of his gang members were arrested in a popular hotel in Offa with some supposed call girls whom they had picked but later turned out to be detectives.
After that, he escaped and ended up in Lagos, his base where he met an old gang at Ajangbadi and they were on their way to robbing a warehouse in Ojo Alaba international market when they encountered the police. How did he get into this mess? “Brethren, it is a long story. When I was in CMS Grammar School in Bariga, I used to go to one panel beater near my uncle’s house. That was how I picked interest in the profession. So when it became difficult to finance my education, I dropped out in JSS 3 and began full time apprentice in panel beating.
I served my master for four years during which I became proficient in the art. Some of our costomers liked my job and I began to think of how to get my own shop. But when the money was not forthcoming, I come begin dey do join man (team up with another person) with one of my friends. It was from then that one pastor came to preach in our shop and after listening to him, I told my friend who was also a Moslem that I like the word of God and that I want of be converted into Christianity. That was how I gave my life to God. So, I started worshiping with Amazing Grace Ministries, Bariga for almost one year.
One evening as we were about closing for work, one of our friends when we were apprentices came in a beautiful Honda Accord car and we were all amazed on how he made it so quickly. He took us out and we had drinks. That day I didn’t take alcohol and my friends were all laughing at me and called me pastor. When we left the place he gave us N5,000.00 for transport. That night I did not sleep well. Very early the next day I called him on his GSM line that he should please help me with about N25, 000.00 with which to buy my tools and that I would pay him back in less than two months.
Instead he laughed at me and said he doesn’t lend money to people but that he would teach me how to make money. I was curious and wanted it very quickly too. But I did not hear from him for almost three weeks. One day he appeared again, this time with three other guys in his car and we went out but that day I drank three bottles of Gulder beer with one plate of pepper soup and I come high well well.
We left the joint at Shomolu around 11.00pm. In his car, he brought out three short guns and said I should take one. Initially, fear catch me but because Oga, I no go lie, I don dey well, well, I said in my language: Ojo Iku l’ ojo isimi ( a Yoruba adage which means the day we think we will die is the day of survival). I grabbed the gun and my friend Mufu shook his head in appreciation. However right inside me, I knew I had not handled a gun before nor shot at any object before.
We set out and at the end of the day we made good money from where we went to rob at Apapa. I got N50,000.00 and I became swollen headed. I no longer go to shop and when my customers would call me, I would lie that I was sick. That was how I left the work and entered full time robbery. In one operation at Mushin, two of our men were shot dead but I and three others escaped and that was how we went to Ibadan. From there we started robbing inter-state up to Kwara State. We finally settled in Kwara because we used to outwit the police there.
But recently, we heard there was a new Oga of police who is just killing our men any how. In short, Kwara is hot now for us; all those operations we used to carry on, on the highway is no longer easy for us. Two of our members were arrested by the girls they wanted to sleep with.
So, I decided to come back to Lagos and repent again. But when I got to Ajangbadi, I met my old friend who said they had operation that night and that I could come if I was interested. Inside of me I knew I wanted to leave armed robbery entirely but one mind say, make I just go for only that night. It was while we were on the way that we had encounter with police and this is where I found my self.
I am happy that I know God before this mess and that is why I am telling every armed robber to repent and do something more credible as a means of livelihood.
But Oga I want you to know one thing, these guns were not found on me, in short, the day I was arrested, I did not hold gun. It was my people who escaped that held guns. We do not even use this kind of guns. This police people dey lie too much. Anyway, may God forgive them.”
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