A gang of robbers in the early hours of today invaded a new generation bank in Ayobo area of Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, LCDA of Lagos State, South West, Nigeria. A police source informed P.M.NEWS that the robbers were armed with dynamite and other sophisticated weapons. They arrived the bank at about 1.30 a.m. and blew up the vault of the bank during the operation which lasted for about three hours.
They also broke the bank’s automated teller machine, ATM, and carted away an unspecified sum of money. Residents of the area, who witnessed the robbery attack, said it was as if there was war as the robbers were shooting throughout the period the robbery operation lasted. The police were said to be helpless because of the sophisticated weapons the robbers used.
An eyewitness claimed that the robbers came in through the Ayetero-Ijele, Ogun State boundary and escaped through the same route after their successful operation. The Area Commander of Area “G” Police Command, Mr. Mobolaji Odesanya, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, visited the scene of the crime this morning.
He promised that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo will also visit the scene very soon.
Mr. Odesanya also added that investigation into the incident has commenced. In another incident, an army sergeant and a hotelier identified as Mr. Ogu, were yesterday night killed by armed robbers near a fast food restaurant along Morocco-Bajulaiye Road, in Somolu, Lagos State.
Mr. Ogu was said to be in his car with two other occupants when he ran into the robbers and was shot. An eyewitness told P.M.NEWS that the sergeant, who was a guard nearby, was attracted to the scene by gunshots but he was also shot by the robbers before he could do anything. A source at the scene said the robbers, who were about 10, were attacking a popular beer parlour in the area when the car rammed into them.
As at the time of filing this report, Ogu’s car with registration number AT 988 AGL, with blood stains all over and perforated by bullets, had been removed from the scene to Alade Division of the Nigeria Police, Somolu. The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of the station declined comment.
He referred P.M.NEWS to the state police command, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Frank Mba for further enquiry.
