Posted by By MUYIWA OYINLOLA on
A gang of 30 daring armed robbers stormed the Bureaux de Change at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday carting away currencies worth over N150 million.
A gang of 30 daring armed robbers stormed the Bureaux de Change at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday carting away currencies worth over N150 million.
Eyewitness accounts said the bandits arrived the premises located near three police formations at about 1.00a.m and left at 6.00a.m. They raided eight shops and broke five safes, making away with all the money they could find.
It was gathered that the armed robbers swooped on the area in a convoy of 17 cars, some of them with blaring sirens.
The two security guards in the premises were said to have run for dear lives when the robbers shot into the air. Others at the spot were also said to have taken to their heels.
Journalists who arrived the scene at about 9.00a.m on Monday met spent cartridges, gas cylinders and some other items used for the operation.
Some of the operators described the incident as regrettable given the closeness of the shops to a police post. They valued the local and foreign currencies lost to the robbers at about N150 million.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Tanim, managing director, Ibro Resources Bureau de Change, said he lost $270,000 (US Dollars) and N25 million to the robbers.
'That is my plight, and it is unfortunate that this place is located within the Police Area Command in Beesam, Barracks Police Post and the barracks.
'It is a pity that none of them could render any assistance and confront them (robbers). I lost $270,000 and N25 million, but I trust in God. He knows why it happened."
Another victim, who simply identified himself as Danjuma said he lost over N5 million. He further stressed that they had reported the incident to the police.
Commenting further, Tanim said this was the first time armed robbers would operate in the area in this magnitude since his 10 years of operation there.
Another victim said there had been complaints of harrassment by their customers who alleged that some miscreants in the area usually followed them whenever they changed money and made unnecessary financial demands from them.
Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police at the airport, Mr Julian Opaleke told journalists that the command was already aware of the incident and was working on how to apprehend the robbers.