Soldier arrested for armed robbery, car snatching in Adamawa

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a serving soldier with his co-traveller for alleged criminal offences of car snatching and armed robbery in Yola.
Spokesman of the Command, DSP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje told journalists in Yola that the duo were caught while trying to escape with the snatched car at famous target junction in the state capital( Jimeta) around 1:00am on Tuesday.
Nguroje stated that preliminary investigations by detectives has shown that the said soldier who was on special assignment in Monguno local government abandoned his duty post and came to Yola to commit such criminal act.
“The suspects accosted a lady along target junction. They pointed a gun at her and asked her to surrender the car a Toyota Camry which she obliged.
“ Luckily enough, the matter was reported to the nearby policemen on duty along target junction who swung into action immediately in collaboration with vigilante operatives and arrested the suspects.
“We were able to recover the snatched car, an AK47 rifle and 35 rounds of ammunition from the suspect,” Nguroje said.
During interrogation by our reporter, the soldier who identified himself as Dampa Hyellambamun said he was on special operations in Monguno.
“I got a pass to come to Yola from my base in Monguno and the pass had expired since August 10, 2019,” he said.
When asked why he resorted to robbing innocent people instead of defending them, the soldier who appeared unremorseful said he was forced to resort to self help because he has neither received his salary nor allowance for a long time.
“I was given a gun without salary and allowance. What do you want me to do when I’m on the verge of starvation?” he retorted.