Posted by By Kingsley Omonobi on
ABUJA - TWO weeks after executives of the Luxury Bus Operators of Nigeria (LUBON), complained to the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, that the sum of N4.5million recovered by the police from armed robbers..
ABUJA - TWO weeks after executives of the Luxury Bus Operators of Nigeria (LUBON), complained to the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, that the sum of N4.5million recovered by the police from armed robbers who attacked a G.U.O. luxury bus in 2003 at the Lokoja-Abuja road, was yet to be returned to the owners, the money has been returned on the orders of the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Sunday Ehindero.
The return of the huge amount of money in cash, described as ‘‘unbelievable'' by Chief G. U. Okeke, Chairman G.U.O group of companies, 'signifies a new era of trust and transparency for the police force."
The luxury bus with registration number XH 371 ENU, from Kano to Onitsha, driven by Mr. Micheal Ogido had been attacked at about 2am between Lokoja and Okene, on the 20th of May, 2003, with its passengers especially traders robbed of money totaling N4.5million.
However, as the robbers made away with the money, they ran into a police patrol team and in the ensuing exchange of gunfire, two of the robbers were killed and the money abandoned and recovered.
Since then, the police refused to release the recovered money until the matter was brought to the attention of the present acting Inspector-General of Police.
Expatiating on the action of Mr. Ehindero, Chief Okeke said, 'It is God that has made this possible. Most of the passengers, owners of the money and myself, didn't believe we will ever get back this money until the new IG came on board."
'You can see that God is using Mr. Ehindero to sanitize the police and today's event has shown that he leads by example. It is like a dream. Nobody thought it would be possible. N4.5million? Infact, I am short of words".
Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigations Department, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo in his remarks at the occasion, said, 'we are happy for what has just happened. This goes to show that there are many good and dedicated officers in the police who want to tackle crime in all ramifications".
'When the new IG took over, we discussed the trend of transit crime which was worrisome and agreed to be unrelenting in dealing with it. People were afraid to travel. But thank God, the trend has reduced with the strategy we are putting in place."
'Today's handing over of this money to the owners is a manifestation of the kind of police force we are talking about. This is just the beginning. It shows there are very good men in the police."
Onovo then advised travelers to develop the habit of using banks drafts to transfer money when large sums are involved adding that when they know traders use banks for business, they would desist from such attacks.