The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bank robbery

  • Gunmen kill bank customer, cart away money

    Gunmen kill bank customer, cart away money

    Gunmen Thursday killed a bank customer, Kingsley Chukwudi in the Apapa area of Lagos State.

    The incident occurred in the morning while the young man was leaving the bank.

    It was gathered that the gunmen who rode on power bike, allegedly trailed the victim to the bank and shot him.

    The Nation gathered that they also carted away his bag containing laptop, money and other valuables.

    It was learnt that a combined tram of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives and policemen attached to the Apapa Division have been on the lookout for the suspects who fled immediately they shot the victim.

    A source who hinted on the incident said the robbers probably thought that the victim was carrying huge money in the bag.

    “He has entered the bank and was leaving when he was shot. He was a security guard. He was carrying his laptop bag and the robbers thought he was going to deposit money into the bank but the young man was just carrying his laptop bag.

    “His body was taken to Area B Police Command in Apapa, which attracted crowd because he was a very good person,” the source said.

    Efforts to get the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) to comment on the issue failed as at the time of filing this report.

  • Agbara bank robbery: Arase hails men

    Agbara bank robbery: Arase hails men

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has praised his men for arresting four members of the Agbara bank robbery gang.

    Arase urged all police commands/formations to change their game particularly in intelligence gathering towards providing adequate security for the citizenry.

    Force spokesperson Olabisi Kolawole, in a statement, said: “The gang leader, simply identified as Kelly Rotor, was arrested amid heavy shootout between the operatives of the Special Intelligence Response Team at Sapele, Delta State. Arms and ammunition were recovered from the arrested hoodlums.”

    The IG promised that all fleeing members of the gang will be arrested soon.

    The police chief urged public to continue to supply the police information.

     

  • FESTAC Banks robbery: Police deny blaming Navy, Army

    FESTAC Banks robbery: Police deny blaming Navy, Army

    The Police in Lagos on Friday refuted reports that the command shifted blame to the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army while visiting the FESTAC Town banks robbery scene on Thursday.

    CSP Adebowale Lawal, the Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made the clarification while addressing newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

    Lawal said that the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in charge of the zone, Mr Bala Hassan, did not blame either of the two security formations while granting interviews.

    “There is no basis for the allegations that the police shifted blame to the Army and the Navy that they did not respond when they were called.

    “In fact, they all gave their assurances that they are ever ready to work with him to ensure that Lagos and Ogun states under the zone are peaceful.

    “I wouldn’t know where the journalist got that information from because while the AIG was granting the interview, he never at any time shifted blame to either of the two.

    “The AIG in charge of Zone 2, Bala Hassan, upon assumption of duty visited other sister security agencies,’’ Lawal said.

    “This is because he appreciated the collaborative efforts of all the agencies in combating crime in Lagos and Ogun states where he co-ordinates.

    “He appreciates their collaborative efforts in fighting crime and that is one of the reasons why he visited them to seek for a continuous support and to strengthen the relationship.’’

    The PPRO also advised that journalists should verify their stories before publishing.

    “Journalists should always get their facts right before publishing anything so that they don’t tarnish the good relationship existing among security agencies in Nigeria.

    “They should always do what we call investigative journalism. They should not just publish information without sieving it,’’ the PPRO said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the former Area E Police Commander, ACP Frank Mba, had said that all security agencies contacted during the robbery incident responded swiftly.

    It will be recalled that armed robbers had on Tuesday robbed Access and Diamond banks on 4th Avenue, FESTAC Town, an incident that caused the death of a mother and child through stray bullet.

    However, the response of the police forced the robbers to abandon N27 million, 240 live AK 47 riffle ammunition.

  • Council chief urges calm after bank robbery

    The chairman of Àbaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba has called on residents of the council to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, as effort is being made by security agencies to track down the armed robbers who attacked First Bank in the council.

    Garba, who made the call while on a visit to the robbery scene at First Bank in the council, sympathised with victims of the bank robbery, urging the residents to be vigilant and security conscious.

    The chairman assured the résidents that the security operatives are doing their best to arrest  the robbers.

    The council chairman also paid visit to the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, to assure him of the council commitment to ensuring proper security of lives and property in the council.

     

  • Ondo community laments low patronage over bank robbery, others

    THE bank robbery in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State in February that claimed over 20 lives is still having adverse effect on the economy of the commercial town.

    It was learnt that many traders outside the community were not willing to come around for business transaction after the incident.

    Besides, banks in the community have been getting low patronage because of fears of repeated attacks.

    The bad roads and erratic power supply have worsened the problem.

    But Iyalaje of Ikare-Akoko, Alhaja Risikat Mohammed, hailed an indigene of the area and the founder of Synagogue Church, Pastor T.B. Joshua, for donating eight new patrol vehicles to the police to enhance security in the division’s four local government areas.

    She urged other Akoko indigenes to emulate the gesture.

    The woman leader condemned the deplorable roads in Akokoland, especially on Ogbagi-Afin, Ajowa-Eriti, Ugbe-Epinmi and Arigidi-Okeagbe-Omuo Ekiti roads, which, according to her, have become impassable.

    Mrs. Mohammed lamented non-resuscitation of some factories established by past administrations, which, she said, could absorb youths that were roaming the streets.

    Many residents also flayed the incessant road accidents involving trailers between Okerogbo, Oke-Alabojuto and Oke-Oka, in which several lives have been lost.

    Two prominent monarchs in the area, Olubaka of Oka, Oba Yusuf Adeleye and the Olukare of Ikareland, Oba Akadiri Momoh, expressed concern on the issue.

    They called for diversion of trailers and other heavy duty trucks to Ipele-Idoani.

    The traditional rulers appealed for urgent rehabilitation of Owo-Ikare and Iwaro-Oka Akoko to prevent further loss of lives.

     

  • Banks shut down operation in Ondo over robbery

    Commercial centres particularly banking institutions Friday shut down operation in Owo, headquaters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo state and its environs following the Thursday bank robbery in the town.

    This development however paralyzed commercial activities in the town as all social and commercial activities were grounded.

    It would be recalled that dare devil armed robbers who invaded the town on Thursday killed the manager of a new generation bank and his assistant.

    Also, the robbers left many residents of the town injured after their devilish operation which lasted for about two hours.

    When our correspondent visited the town Friday, mobile Police Officers were seen patrolling the town.

    Also, the town was deserted as many people stayed indoor apparently for fear of further attack by the robbers or arrest by the Police.

    Although the Police are yet to make any arrest in connection with the incident, it was gathered that a team of detectives have been deployed to the town.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the State Police command, Mr Wole Ogodo stated that the Police have commenced investigation on the robbery incident.

    He stressed that the armed robbers would not go unpunished as efforts are on top gear to arrest them.

    Meanwhile, the people of Owo have condemned the Thursday robbery incident in the town, alleging that the Police failed in their responsibility to attack the robbers.

    An indigene of the town, Mr. Soji Oluwasen alleged that the robbery incident took place in the presence of the Police, who he blamed for negligence of duty.

    He said the incident was unfortunate as many people sustained injuries, while others died.

    The effect of the robbery has spread to Akokoland where customers met gates of all banks under lock and key thereby depriving many from travelling to their home base where they registered to vote today.

    A disappointed customer, Emmanuel Ojelabi lamented his inability to buy foodstuff the purpose of election as market will open during the election.

    Many banks in Akure, the state capital also shut their doors against many customers because of fear of robbery attack.

  • Police foil bank robbery

    The police in Aba, Abia State, have foiled a bank robbery.

    A patrol team from Abayi Police Station was said to have foiled the robbery at a new generation bank at Udeagbala junction, off Aba-Owerri Road, Aba.

    The incident, The Nation learnt, occurred on Saturday morning.

    It was gathered that the robbers, after scaling the fence, tied the two private security guards and entered the bank, heading for the vault, carrying a gas cylinder and other tools.

    Our source said the robbers were not arrested, as they fled when the police arrived.

    There was no official comment from the Abia Police Command.

    However, a police source, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the incident. He said the police recovered the gas cylinder, as the robbers abandoned it.

  • Boko Haram scare in Kebbi

    Confusion and palpable tension came to the fore Thursday night as rumor of the dreaded Islamic Sect; Boko Haram invasion of the ancient city of Arugungu broke out in the late night.

    Concerned citizens of the town started making phone calls to their friends and relatives including Security Agents in Birning-Kebbi the State capital a distance of 20km away informing them of the invasion.

    In a  swift reaction to the news, The Nation  put a call to  the Commissioner of Police Mr. Benjamin Uche Onwuka at about 10.pm, who later alleys the fear of the public over the perceived Boko Haram invasion.

    Onwuka explained that what happened was a case of armed robbery. The robbers according to him were three in number who rode on motorcycle and robbed a government Savings and Loan Bank in the town.

    He explained further that the bandits as if not yet done, headed for  the Eco Bank also in the town, there they shot and killed  the Policeman on guard, killed one person, while two other persons sustain injuries.

    The commissioner also stated that with the spirited effort of some youth and Security operatives around, they confronted the robbers which led to the arrest of one of them immediately;” what u heard was not Boko Haram incidence, what happened was an armed robbery attack on two Banks, as I am talking to you now, one suspect has been arrested with AK47 and rounds of ammunitions.”

    The Nation also called the Commissioner of police the following day to ascertain the latest in the incident, his reply was, “the situation in Argungu is stable, did I not speak with you online yesterday night? Telling you about the arrest of one suspect? I am happy to tell you again that another suspect has been picked up now.”

  • Police: how we foiled bank robbery in Rivers

    The Force Headquarters, Abuja, said its men in the Rivers State command foiled what the police termed “an elaborate bank robbery”, planned by a gang against an unnamed commercial bank.

    The alleged robbery was foiled on Friday, Deputy Force spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement yesterday.

    According to the police, weapons recovered from a hideout of the gang were two General Purpose Machine Guns with 593 rounds of ammunition; eight AK- 47 rifles with 1635 rounds of ammunition and 57 magazines; rifles; dynamites; detonators; explosive devices with accessories.

    Mba added that three operational vehicles deployed by the gang for the planned operation were also recovered. He listed details of the vehicles as a Volvo S40 car, a Mercedes-Benz Saloon car and a Nissan Pathfinder Sports Utility Van (registration numbers withheld).

    The weapons, according to him, were recovered from the three vehicles at a mechanic village in Ihugbo, on the East-West Road, Ahoada, Rivers State.

    Although no arrests had been made, the Force said incriminating exhibits “linking the perpetrators to the weapons” were also recovered from the hideout, while efforts to track down the suspects were being intensified.

    “The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has praised the officers and men of the Rivers State Police Command for the impressive recovery.

    “He enjoined all police commands/formations to step up their game, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering towards providing adequate security for the citizenry.”