Robbers on okada steal N50m from bullion van - Cop killed in another robbery

From Bolaji Ogundele and Yinka Oladoyinbo- 27.03.2008

ABOUT N50 million belonging to a first generation bank was on Wednesday stolen by an eight-man gang of suspected armed robbers in an attack on a bullion van which took place between Garrison Junction and Saint Johns Bus Stop on Aba Road, Port Harcourt.

Eyewitnesses said the hoodlums, who were armed and were conveyed on six motorbikes, overtook the bullion van that was carrying the cash and forced the driver to a halt.

They were said to have asked those in the van to lie down on the road while some of the robbers took the money in the van and immediately left on their bikes.

Confirming the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, a senior police source said the case had been reported to the police, noting that the money was being conveyed without police escort and with the back door of the van unlocked.

According to him, the police command had expressed dissatisfaction at the “security recklessness” of the management of the bank.

“They have come to report it. They said it was N50 million, which they just carried in their van, no police escort and the back of the van was left open. They have radioed us that we should start chasing after Okada people, when we did not know how they went about it.

“We have lambasted their management over the carelessness they displayed. How could a bank of their status let out so much money without informing the police about it and then they left the vault and the back door unlocked? That was too careless."

Efforts to get an official confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ireju Barasua (DSP), were unsuccessful as she did not pick her phone when called.

In a related development, a gang of 15 armed robbers on Wednesday robbed the Akungba Akoko, Ondo State branch, of an old generation bank, the second time in two months, killing a police constable and injuring one of the bank officials.

However, the robbers were unsuccessful as the bullion van they were targeting arrived late. The robbers, upon entering the bank premises, were said to have demanded for the bullion van.

However, it was gathered that when the robbers discovered that they had missed their target, they started shooting into the air, causing confusion in the town.

Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University and market women already in the market ran for safety. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the driver of the bullion van had to turn back when he discovered that a robbery operation was going on. After waiting endlessly for the arrival of the bullion van, the robbers later carted away the money with the cashiers and the safe but were not satisfied with this as they later swooped on the Automated Teller Machine of the bank where they reportedly got some money.

However, police in Isua-Akoko laid ambush for the robbers, where they engaged them in a gun duel for about 30 minutes, leading to the death of a policeman.

The robbers later abandoned their vehicles. Some guns were recovered by the policemen who chased them.

Attempts to speak with the officials of the bank proved abortive as the bank was under lock and key following the robbery.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Adeniran Aremu, said a policeman died during an exchange of gunfire with the robbers.

He, however, said the intervention of the police aborted the plan of the robbers.