A Lebanese arrested by the police for allegedly killing a Bureau de Change operator in Lagos, has claimed that he was lured into committing the crime.
Twenty-three year old Bilal Fahs was arrested last week in Apapa after he and other members of his gang allegedly robbed and killed one Sanni Aliyu.
Fahl, who is being held at the State Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, said he came to Nigeria to search of greener pasture but bad friends lured him to commit the crime for which he was arrested.
“I came to Lagos State in March this year. I have been to Lagos in the past but this time around, I came to look for a job. With the information I got from home, I went to Victoria Island where I spent two days with some friends. Later I went to Apapa to stay with one Hassan, he is a Lebanese,” Fahs explained.
“Hassan was the one who gave me the phone number of the bureau de change guy that I should call him to bring some dollars to exchange for me. Hassan also gave me a cheque to collect the dollar but the cheque was fake.
“Hassan also hired the taxi driver that took me to a hotel at Apapa where I lodged. I later sent the Driver to pick up the bureau de change guy but the driver did not know the place so I called the bureau de change guy to meet me at Kalatukata, a restaurant at Apapa.”
According to him, when Aliyu got there, they went up to his room where a Nigerian, Mohammed was waiting.
“When Aliyu brought out 50,000 dollars to change, Mohammed brought out a stick he was hiding in his bag and hit Aliyu on the head,” the suspect added.
The Lebanese then attempted to flee with the dollars but was apprehended after a hotel staff raised alarm.
“After Mohammed hit Aliyu, Aliyu slumped and I rushed to put the money in my laptop bag. The total money was $50,000. Mohammed escaped and as I attempted to escape with the cash, people grabbed me and started beating me up. I brought out a knife and stabbed myself so that I will not be arrested,” he said.
A police source, who requested anonymity, said Fahs and his gang stabbed Aliyu several times all over his body in the hotel room and left him in the pool of his blood.
“The Lebanese (Fahs) was soaked with blood as he also stabbed Aliyu several times while trying to escape with the money but a vigilant attendant saw him and raised alarm and he was arrested by the crowd in front of the hotel and handed over to the Apapa police division,” the source said.
Fahs alleged that the security guard who arrested him stole 40,000 dollars from the money.
“The money they collected from me is 50,000 dollars, it was the security guard at the hotel that collected my bag and hid it in their room when I was caught and was been beaten. So I was surprised to find out that the police said they saw only 10,000 dollars; I feel terribly bad about what I have done but it was Hassan that used my head and manipulated me to commit the crime,” he said.
It was gathered that the police arrested another Lebanese and a Nigerian in connection with the murder, while the other members of the gang are said to be on the run.
