Eyewitnesses said that in what was clearly a daring move, the victim had knocked one of the robbers to the ground, though the latter was armed with a rifle. Seeing this, the other members of the gang panicked and fled the scene.

But they were given a chase by onlookers, apprehended, and eventually handed over to the police.

While parading the suspects in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kwara State Command, Mr.  Ibrahim Kadri, said a locally made pistol was recovered from the criminals.

The suspects are Fatia Isiaka (19)  and Fatai  Hamsat (19), both of Eruda in Ilorin, Kwara State. He added that the command was on the trail of the fleeing third suspect called 'Last Born.'

Kadri alleged that  Isiaka and Hamsat  had  gone to rob some people at  Omowunmi. He said, "The three robbery suspects had  gone to Omowunmi area of Offa, and met someone washing clothes outside. They put a locally made pistol on his head and took him into the building and embarked on a room-to-room search. The first room they entered was occupied by ladies who they ordered to lie down and face the ground and ordered them to bring their valuables.

"In the process, one of the men that was made to lead them into the house summoned courage and hit one of the suspects holding a gun. As a result, the armed robber fell down and the robbers  took to their heels.

"The people shouted and arrested two of suspects, while the third suspect known as 'Last Born' escaped."

 Kadri said the command would hand over the suspects to the police for further investigations and possible arraignment.

Isiaka claimed that Hamsat had invited him to accompany him on a visit to his friend living in Offa, but that immediately they got there,  the friend, who is now at large, led them to the said house for the operation.

He claimed that this was the first time he was involved in robbery and begged for forgiveness.