I became an armed robber at age seven —14 years old 

CITIZENS COMPASS —A 14 years old suspected armed robber, Gift Peace, says she became an armed robber at the age of seven. 

Gift said she was a member of a robbery gang terrorising Warri and its environs in Delta State. 

She made the startling revelation when she was arrested by the operatives of Delta State Police Command on Friday, September 29, 2023. 

Spokesperson, Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, who disclosed this to Citizens Compass in a statement, on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, said two other suspected teenage armed robbers, 19 years old Idigbe Osreis and 16 years old Idigbe Perfect were arrested alongside Gift when his mem responded to a distress call to Giwamu junction, Warri. 

According to him, the leader of the gang was injured during gunduel with the Police and later died. 

Edafe narrated what led to the arrest of the teenagers and death of their gang leader thus: 

“On 29/9/2023, the DPO ‘B’ Division Warri received a distress call about an armed robbery operation at Giwamu junction Warri, during the attack one police undercover operative was at the scene who sighted one of the suspects and later trailed him to a Suya spot at Enerhen Junction. “The DPO ‘B’ Warri SP Bolarinwa Alabi acting on the directive of the Delta State Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass psc,  embarked on an intelligence-led operation alongside his men and arrested one Gift Peace ‘m’ aged 14yrs at the said Suya spot at Enerhen junction. 

“The teenager confessed to being a member of an armed robbery gang that terrorizes Warri and its environs; and that he has been in the act since he was seven years old. He mentioned other members and thus took the detectives to their hideout. 

” The gang members upon sighting the police opened fire from their unregistered operational tricycle and due response was given to their hostility, and in the process, one of the suspects who was later identified as the leader of the gang sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped. 

“He was taken to the hospital where he was eventually confirmed dead by the doctor. The exhibit recovered includes the following: the operational tricycle of the gang, one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun with stocked expended cartridges, and three live cartridges. 

“Two male gang members: Idigbe Osreis (19) and Idigbe Perfect (16) were later arrested at their hideout. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing members, and also to recover more of their operational arms.” He said. 

The Delta State Commissioner of Police CP Wale Abass, while emphasizing the necessity of adequate parenting as an essentiality in the fight against crime, advices that parents should be alive to their responsibilities, and safeguard the future of their wards by monitoring and teaching them valuable precautionary lessons that will help them avoid bad companies and hence stay away from criminal activities.