Bayelsa Residents Nab Robbery Gang, Recover Loot

By Emmanuel  Addeh in Yenagoa
 

An angry mob waylaid a suspected gang of armed robbers in Bayelsa yesterday, beat up the suspects and recovered N1.3 million belonging to a cleric.

 The two-member gang was said to have trailed the pastor identified as Andy Sese, from a bank where he withdrew the money to a supermarket along the Opolo Area of Yenagoa Local Government Council.

 The  hoodlums identified as Wero Paul, 32 and Innocent Uche 34, broke the window of a Toyota Xterra, at Market Square Premises at Opolo before carting away the money. 

However, luck ran out on Paul and Uche, who reportedly came in a get-away Commercial Tricycle, when one of the private security guards attached to the popular Supermarket, raised the alarm.

 The shouting guard attracted the attention of members of the public which immediately mobilised and went after the gang. 

“While a vehicle beside the fleeing Keke Napep assisted the private security by blocking it from getting away, I saw two young boys come down with some heavy bags under their clothes. 

“I screamed and asked them to stop and asked the security to search them. We discovered some substantial part of the stolen money from them”, a witness who identified himself as Elder Emmanuel said. 

He added: “The mob reacted and descended on the suspects by beating them black and blue before the arrival of men of the Special Anti-Robbery squad. Within minutes the suspects were beaten beyond recognition.”

 In a statement confirming the incident, the Bayelsa state police command said that though the culprits had been apprehended, investigation was still ongoing.

 “At about 1500hrs, one Wero Paul, 32 years and Innocent Uche 34 years, broke the window of a Toyota Xterra, at Market Square Premises Opolo and stole about N1.300.000 million belonging to one Pastor Andy Sese.

“Consequently, policemen responded swiftly and arrested the thieves. The sum of N1.300.000 million and their get-away tricycle with REG NO. ASK 540 QO  was recovered. Investigation is ongoing”, the command’s Spokesman, Asinim Butswat, said.