Posted by By ALEX OTUDOR on
Contrary to reports that the robbers who attacked a bank in Lekki Phase One area of Lagos on Monday, could not access the bank's vault, NewAge has learnt that about N20million may have been carted away from the bank.....
Contrary to reports that the robbers who attacked a bank in Lekki Phase One area of Lagos on Monday, could not access the bank's vault, NewAge has learnt that about N20million may have been carted away from the bank. A Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr. Longe Kehinde who led the team of the police counter attack team was also shot and severely wounded.
Mr. Longe Kehinde is lying critically ill in an undisclosed hospital as bank officials take stock. Close sources at the bank told NewAge that the robbers carted away huge sums of money from the paying and receiving clerks, and from the branch accountants office. The office of the branch manager was also ransacked and huge sums of money were reportedly carted away. "Some customers also claimed to have lost huge amounts to the rampaging robbers who brandished military type weapons," revealed the source. The incidents of bank robberies have recently increased in Lagos recurring nearly every other day. The robbers' mode of operation include launching attacks through adjoining body of water and escaping in fast and heavily powered engine boats.
The directives of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, to deploy police marine patrol boats to patrol the coastlines is yet to take off. Meanwhile, dare-devil robbers on Wednesday sacked the expansive multi-purpose market located at the Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos shooting a policeman attached to the police station.
No fewer than 34 shops were allegedly broken into, looted or vandalised in an operation which lasted for hours. The market which accommodates thousands of business concerns was invaded by the robbers at about 1.30am. The night guards in the market allegedly took to their heels following the incessant shooting by the rampaging robbers, until policemen from the nearby Trade Fair police division got wind of the invasion and moved in to counter the robbers. It was during the exchange of gunfire with the robbers that the police sergeant identified as Chukwuma was shot and seriously wounded. A reinforcement had to be called in before the robbers could be dislodged.
Recently, robbers have not only over run Lagos, they have been active across the country. In a recent brazen attack, robbers removed a mast belonging to NTA, Nassarawa with a crane in an operation which lasted hours. The station also lost a 3.8KVA power generating set.
No fewer than six banks have been attacked in Lagos within the past five weeks, losing several millions of naira. In all the operations, the robbers arrived well armed and usually with speed boats.
An embarrassed Lagos command police boss, Mr. Emmanuel Adebayo has held series of meetings with his aides including DPOs on the way forward. However, the command's spokesman, Mr. Bode Ojajuni told NewAge that the command has mapped out fresh strategies to checkmate the onslaught.
Meanwhile, robbers at gun point snatched a posh car on Apongbon bridge on Tuesday night. The robbers arrived the area dressed as area boys before they unleashed terror on residents, traders and pedestrians. Several persons were injured, shops looted as some of the hoodlums shot sporadically into the air.
As at press time, no arrest had been made, although the command spokesman said, "the command has intensified efforts. We are adopting fresh strategies to counter the robbers."