Ahmed Rewanu, a 27-year-old robbery suspect has alleged that the police arrested him with the aid of charm because he was caught by surprise, with no option for escape.

Rewanu also known as Alagbara was among four suspects arrested by the Rader Squad of the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.

According to Punch Metro, the suspects, Rewanu, Rahmon Alao, Mufu Akanni, and Lukman Suleiman were among the alleged robbers wreaking havoc in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos state.

It was gathered that they were picked up at a hotel at Orile by police officers, led by the deputy commander of the Anti-Robbery Squad.

The suspect said his group always used the opportunity of street fights to steal from passersby, adding that three members of the gang had guns.

He said: "Anytime there was a fight at Amukoko, Alaba and Orile Iganmu, I always joined in the fight with other boys. We are about 10 in number, but only three of us have guns. After each fight, we always went to a hotel where we shared our loots. I have collected up to six phones, which I sold to our leader at the rate of N3, 000 each. Our leader bought all the items we stole from us and resold them."

The Kwara state indigene said the gang leader was still at large, and might not be arrested anytime soon.

However Alao, another member claimed the gang used sticks with nails to rob passersby.

He said: "We do not carry guns; we only use sticks with nails. When we are fighting, we rob innocent people on the road and collect their phones. I have only stolen two phones."

The other two suspects also confessed to be members of the group, but denied using guns to rob residents of the state.

Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has said that the Nigeria police lost 12,000 officers between 2013 and now due to death, dismissal, desertion or retirement.