In a bizarre incident in Osun State, a 23-year-old robbery suspect, Godwin Emmanuel, has confessed to stealing a police officer’s phone while being transported to the Osun State Police Command. Emmanuel, who was arrested for his role in a series of armed robberies, made the shocking admission while being paraded alongside his accomplices, Olajide Kareem, 28, and Emmanuel Mike, 33. The trio had been robbing motorists and passengers along the Ilesa-Osu Expressway.

According to the police, the suspects had been involved in multiple robberies where they targeted travelers on the busy expressway. One of the incidents saw a bus driver shot in the leg by the robbers, but fortunately, he was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and survived. The suspects were arrested after a coordinated operation by the Osun State Police.

Olajide Kareem, who was apprehended first, admitted to being part of a larger five-member gang. He revealed that the gang had traveled from Ikorodu, Lagos, to Osun State to commit their criminal activities. Following his confession, the two other suspects, Emmanuel Mike and Godwin Emmanuel, were also arrested.

While being transported to the police station in a patrol van, Godwin Emmanuel took advantage of the situation to steal a phone from one of the officers. Speaking to reporters, Emmanuel explained that he didn’t initially realize the phone belonged to a police officer. He admitted to hiding the phone in his cell after arriving at the police station, and even removed the SIM card to avoid detection. His goal was to use the phone to contact his family, who were unaware of his arrest.

“I stole a phone when I was being transported to the Police Command in Osogbo. I didn’t know it was a police phone. I beg, please don’t be angry with me,” Emmanuel said. He continued to explain that he hid the phone on him and intended to use it to reach out to his family. He had been in police custody for about two months before the officers discovered the phone during a routine search.

After a thorough search in the cell, the police found the stolen phone. Emmanuel was then confronted and admitted to his crime. In his statement, he apologized for his actions and begged the authorities for forgiveness. “I didn’t know when I did it. I won’t do it again,” he pleaded. He expressed regret over the theft and hoped that the police would show leniency.

The discovery of the stolen phone added another layer to the suspects’ crime spree. They had already been linked to several robberies, and Emmanuel’s attempt to steal from the police added an ironic twist to the case. The police have vowed to continue their efforts to curb such criminal activities in the region, emphasizing that even those in custody are not beyond the law.

This unusual incident has raised questions about security measures for suspects during transport, prompting further discussions on how to prevent such breaches of trust in the future. As for Emmanuel, his apology and plea for forgiveness may not be enough to change the legal consequences of his actions.