LAGOS — Over 10 gunmen, yesterday,
stormed some banks in Agbara area of Ogun State, killing a mobile
policeman attached to one of the banks.
About
12 persons, including a pregnant woman, were reportedly hit by stray
bullets from the rampaging robbers, while several others sustained
varying degrees of injury in the ensuing stampede.
The gunmen, suspected to be militants, who attacked some banks in
Festac area of Lagos last month, killing a mother of two and two other
banks earlier at Ikorodu and Lekki areas of Lagos, were reportedly clad
in military camouflage, with black bands tied around their heads
They were said to have stormed Bank Road, where about nine banks are
located, at about 8 am in two vehicles, a Toyota Sienna and Camry,
announcing their presence with sporadic gunshots which sent residents
and passers-by scampering for safety.
They reportedly denoted a dynamite in front of one of the first
generation banks as two policemen who attempted to repel the attack were
shot.
While one of them, Corporal Kadiri, was said to have died on the
spot, while doctors at an undisclosed hospital battled to save the life
of the other cop who was shot in the right rib.
The operation
Eyewitnesses said four of the gunmen entered the first generation
bank, collected the guns from the policemen that were shot and used the
guns to shatter the Automated Teller Machines in the bank’s premises.
The eyewitnesses said the robbers proceeded into the banking hall
where they ordered everyone to lie down and demanded for the bank’s
manager with the vault’s key. It could not, however, be ascertained if
they penetrated the vault.
It was learned that other members of the gang outside the bank
positioned themselves strategically to ward off intruders, firing
non-stop.
In the process, stray bullets reportedly hit passers-by, including an
unidentified pregnant woman who was clad in black trousers and a
multicoloured shirt.
It was like a theatre of war
An eyewitness who gave his name as Musibau Kazeem, recounted: “The
whole place was like a theatre of war, they were over 15 in number. They
came on motorcycles and in two cars. They came with explosives,
firing indiscriminately.
“I hid under a vehicle that parked during the shooting. Their mission
was to enter all the banks but they only succeeded in entering one.
Those who went inside came out with wads of Naira notes which they put
inside one of their vehicles.
“One of them, suspected to be the leader, was masked. Immediately he
came out of the bank, he signalled his colleagues to leave the scene. By
then, the Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed at Agbara was firing
some shots. But they were not deterred by the presence of the APC as
they fired sporadically at it, aiming at the tyres.
“Before leaving the scene, they blew up one of their operational
vehicles. They used the fire from the vehicle as a shield to leave the
place in their other car. We saw two of them carrying two of their
colleagues who were shot inside the car as they were leaving.
“But we noticed that by then, the number of gunmen was limited. They
snatched a vehicle from a motorist who was taking his children to school
at Ilase area of Agbara, in which they left the scene.
“But the ones I saw left the scene in the second vehicle which we
heard was abandoned half way. They went through the water heading
towards Totowu, while those hit by stray bullets were rushed to a
private hospital at Agbara by policemen.”
Owner of the vehicle that was snatched (names withheld), who was
still in shock, said: “I was taking my children to school when some
guys stopped me at Ilase. They pointed a gun at me and asked me to step
out of my car. I had to obey them because they were with a gun. I
thought they were soldiers. “
We’ve never seen a thing like this
Another eyewitness, who gave her name simply as Mama Chionye said nobody knew they were armed robbers.
She said: “When they were driving to the scene, we all concluded they
were soldiers. They drove recklessly and even hit a tricycle who was on
the way. On their way back from the scene, they stopped by Agbara
market and started firing, causing traders to run in different
directions.
“A woman was even among them. Four women were hit by stray bullets, we have never seen a thing like this.“
Agbara Estate residents react
Describing the robbery attack as an incident that took the entire
residents unaware, residents of Agbara estate issued a statement
yesterday, disclosing that the robbery was the first of its kind in the
37 years history of the estate.
The statement read: “At about 7am on November 19, 2015, there was an
organised armed robbery on Agbara Estate, the first of its kind in the
estate’s 37-year history.
“Agbara Estate is carrying out an immediate review of its security
operations and is collaborating with the local authorities and police
force to prevent any such incident happening again on the Estate.”
No arrest made —Police
Spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the robbers came in through Badagry-Ilasha road.
He said: “Their intention was to raid all the banks on that road. But
we gave them a hot fight. They were only able to enter one of the
banks. Only one policeman, who tried to repel them, was felled by the
bullets.
“No arrest has been made for now but some of them escaped with bullet
wounds. They launched an attack on our APC but we were able to force
them to flee the scene. They used dynamite to blow up one of their
operational vehicles before leaving the scene while we recovered the
second one.
“We, hereby, appeal to members of the public, especially hospital
staff and traditional healing homes, to avail us with information on
patients with bullets wounds. We are also assuring the people of Agbara
in particular and Ogun State in general that more policemen have been
deployed to ensure their safety, particularly as we approach the
Yuletide.”
Robbers attack woman in Lagos
Meanwhile, a woman who had gone to one of the second generation banks
in Festac Town, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos was, yesterday, attacked by
gunmen who dispossessed her of the undisclosed amount withdrawn from
the bank.
The gunmen, who apparently trailed her from the bank located on 23
Road, pointed a gun at her, threatening to shoot if she made any noise.
Unconfirmed report had it that a policeman who accosted the robbers was shot.
Contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joe Offor,
said it was not a case of bank robbery as earlier claimed. He could,
however, not give details but assured that the command was doing all
within its powers to checkmate criminals in the state.
Mr. Praise Ismail Onye and Mr. Azubike Onyejegbu who both hail from Oba
Idemili South LGA, in Anambra, have been declared "Wanted" by The
Nigerian Police Force, for the murder of Mrs. Nkechi Onyejegbu. The
incident happened on Friday 6th, November 2015, in her house shortly
after she came back from an event she attended with her husband. The two
younger brothers of her husband used cutlass and other weapons to
attack her.
