Posted by By CHRIS ANUCHA on
A war situation played out in Lagos on Thursday when daring armed robbers engaged the police in a gun duel.The robbers had attacked a commercial bank in Kofo Abayomi street in Apapa area of the metropolis.
A war situation played out in Lagos on Thursday when daring armed robbers engaged the police in a gun duel.The robbers had attacked a commercial bank in Kofo Abayomi street in Apapa area of the metropolis.
In the exchange of gunfire, the tyres and body of the police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) moved to the scene of the robbery were shattered. Two of the robbers were killed by the police and one nabbed.
The hoodlums, who came in a Coaster bus, a truck and a Pathfinder Jeep at about 12.30 am, were said to be over 40 and were armed to the teeth.
They were also said to be in possession of items like gas cylinder, hammer and other equipment to break into the bank .
Daily Sun gathered that the robbers attacked some Bureau de change outfits and vandalized other offices in the area. They also broke into some shops and carted electronics and refrigerators.
A source told Daily Sun that a 20 tonnes crane belonging to Global White Castle Limited was also destroyed. It was gathered that in a spirited effort to make good their escape, the robbers destroyed the fence of a nearby hotel. They allegedly abandoned the Coaster bus and the jeep.
Police spokesman, Mr. Olubode Ojajuni, said the police had upper hand in the gun duel with the bandits. According to him, the number of dead robbers was increased to three as one of them injured during the shoot-out died later. He explained that the apprehended robber was helping the police to get to the root of the robbery.
Ojajuni told Daily Sun that the triumph of good over evil was made possible by, among others, a joint police/army team, which quickly moved the APC from the police headquarters to the robbery scene.
He said that many of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds, while two AK 47 rifles, 35 live ammunition, 555 expended ammunition, gas cylinders, four hammers and other dangerous weapons were recovered from them.