The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two dispatch riders for allegedly attempting to dispossess the driver of a ride-hailing company, Uber, of his vehicle in the Anthony area of the state.
It was gathered that the suspects, Sule Abdulkareem and Celestine Joseph, ordered the ride from Obalende and claimed to be going to Anthony.
STATE PRESS learnt that the driver, who sensed danger when the suspects attempted to snatch the vehicle from him, drove to where operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad were stationed and the men were arrested.
It was learnt that a gun was recovered from the suspects.
Abdulkareem told STATE PRESS that they planned to use the vehicle as collateral for a loan to start a business.
He said, "I met Celestine (Joseph) when we were both dispatch riders for an online retail company. I left the company when my salary was being deducted illegally even after I had paid fully for the motorcycle that was given to me.
"When I left the company, my friend told me that he wanted to start a restaurant and bar business on the Island and that he needed N1.6m for the business. We looked everywhere to get a loan, but nobody was willing to give us. It was during our search for the loan that somebody told us that we would need collateral.
"We had wanted to use that Toyota Corolla as our collateral to get the money; unfortunately, we were unable to rob the driver of his car. We both agreed to rob the driver. It was an unfortunate incident."
Joseph, who stated that the gun was given to them by a friend, said they used it to protect themselves from hoodlums while they worked for the online company.
He said, "We planned to snatch the vehicle from him before he got to Maryland; when we asked him to stop at Anthony bus stop, he refused.
"When he did not stop, we decided not to rob him again, but we were arrested by the police."
PUNCH Metro
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