5 killed in Lagos bank robbery - 14 arrested over another robbery

Olalekan Olabulo, Lagos - 26.08.2008

NO fewer than five people were on Monday morning killed and six others injured when armed robbers invaded a branch of a new generation bank in Orile area of Lagos, carting away a yet to be ascertained amount in a space bus which they had snatched.

The robbers arrived at the bank situated close to Suru Bus Stop in Orile around 10 a.m. and held customers hostage.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the robbers, who stormed the bank in large numbers, had a field day as they ransacked the bank after overpowering the security personnel on duty.

Trouble, however, started when the robbers were leaving and discovered that residents of the area and commercial motorcyclists had blocked the road.

Nigerian Tribune further gathered that the development infuriated the armed robbers who went on rampage and started shooting at everybody in sight. Many people were hit by the robbers’ bullets.

A young boy was among the victims. His problem was compounded when a nearby private hospital where he was rushed insisted on seeing a police report before treating him.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Frank Mba, when contacted, declined comments, claiming that he was yet to be briefed by the divisional police officer in charge of the area where the robbery took place.

Meanwhile, 14 suspected robbers have been arrested by the police in connection with weekend’s invasion of Bariga area of the state by armed men who engaged a vigilance group in a clash.

Policemen from Bariga, while reacting to a distress call at Ogunmokun Street early on Saturday morning, arrested two members of a gang who attacked the vigilance group in the area, leaving two of them injured.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the robbers had held residents of the street hostage when the vigilance group confronted them and a clash ensued, leaving two of the vigilantes, identified simply as Alfa and Bode, injured.

Anti-robbery policemen raced to the scene and engaged the robbers in a shoot-out, forcing the robbers to flee while two of them were arrested after the gun duel.

Preliminary investigations by the police led to the arrest of 12 other members of the gang, who have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department in Panti for further interrogation.

Mr. Mba, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, gave the identities of the two leaders of the robbery gang as Idowu Ganiu and Abiodun Faloye.

Mba added that the police would ensure that the suspected robbers were properly investigated and prosecuted.