The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 27-
year-old man, Nuru Owosere, for allegedly stealing
a ram in Mile 12 area of the state.
According to residents, the suspect was of the habit
of stealing livestock at midnight only to sell them at
ridiculous prices.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspect was arrested
in the early hours of Thursday after stealing a ram
belonging to a bricklayer at the Church Avenue
area.
It was learnt that as the suspect was attempting to
escape, residents saw him and chased him.
Owosere was said to have been rounded up by the
mob and beaten up.
PUNCH Metro learnt that when the Divisional Police
Officer, Ketu Division, Umar Justin, got wind of the
situation around 4.30am, he deployed his men in
the area and arrested the suspect.
The suspect however said he was not a thief,
adding that he only stole livestock.
He said he never saw anything wrong in what he did
because he had stolen his own father’s livestock
many times without being reprimanded.
He said, “My father used to rear livestock and
anytime I wanted, I would go and steal any and sell.
Most times I sell the young ones for N3, 000.
However, when the area began experiencing series
of floods, most of the rams and goats fled.
“I moved to Ijebu, Ogun State where I became an
apprentice at a wood-producing factory but when
my family abandoned me, leaving me without
money, I returned to Lagos and started snatching
people’s rams. I don’t feel taking rams is a crime,
they are just animals.
“The person, whose ram I took, I even know him. I
never thought he would join the crowd in beating
me. After all, I am not a thief, I only take people’s
rams.”
Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said
the suspect would be charged to court for stealing.


www.punchng.com/metro/im-not-a-thief-i-only-steal-rams/