Two Killed, Others Injured as Daredevil Robbers Rob Lagos Bank
Chiemelie Ezeobi
In broad daylight, armed robbers Thursday robbed the Odun Ade Market branch of Access Bank at the Orile area of Lagos, killing two of the customers and injuring several others, before carting away an undisclosed amount of money.
Although three of the robbers were later arrested by policemen from Ajegunle police atation, a policemen attached to the bank and several others sustained varying degree of injuries.
The armed gang, numbering six, were said to have arrived the bank on three motorbikes and under the guise of being among the early morning customers, penetrated security.
On sighting a bank customer, the robbers had blown their cover and opened fire on him, gunning him down in the process.
They then pounced on the victim as soon as he fell, and collected the black nylon bag said to contain an undisclosed amount of money, leaving the victim in a pool of his blood as he bled to death.
According to an eyewitness account, some mobile policemen around the vicinity immediately engaged the robbers in a gun duel, and injured one of the robbers.
However, the gang resisted arrest and shot their way through in order to make a getaway. In the melee, a policeman was also shot.
Having created the escape route they sought, the gang carried their injured colleague, mounted their bikes and zoomed off while shooting sporadically.
It was gathered that as soon as the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, got wind of the attack, he put all Area Commanders of Area B, C and Area E and their respective divisional police officers on the alert.
His explicit directive was that they should all team up and apprehend the fleeing gunmen.
Upon receipt of the orders, the Ajegunle Divisional Police Officer, CSP Aminu Gusau and his anti-robbery policemen laid ambush at all the escape routes within his division.
Minutes later, they were able to sight the fleeing gunmen along Oregie area, carrying their wounded colleague on one of their motorcycles.
On sighting the policemen, the robbers shot dead their injured colleague and dumped him on the way, although the gunshot also hit a mechanic identified as Idris Taiwo.
Notwithstanding, the police were able to nab three of the robbers, who have since been transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos Command.
The state
