Jaiyeola Andrews and Eugene Agha in Lagos
1 February 2008
Abeokuta — Dare devil armed robbers ,in the early hours of yesterday, struck at three new generation banks located within the Canaan Land Complex (a.k.a Winner's Chapel) at Sango Ota, Ogun State where they shot two police men and made away with undisclosed sum of money.
Also, a staff of one of the banks was allegedly killed while two other yet to be identified persons were severely injured. The men of the underworld , according to an eyewitness account , stormed the banking complex housing four banks in three buses, shooting sporadically into the air , causing panic among customers and worshipers at Winners Chapel. The robbers numbering over 20 were said to have caught everybody unaware.
Confirming the robbery incident in a telephone chat with THISDAY, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Awoyale said " the robbers shot one police constable and a corporal and they are both on danger list." According to Awoyale, the Gateway Response Squad (GRS) was alerted when the robbers stormed the banks, adding that the police engaged the robbers in gun duel.
He said the two policemen sustained serious gun wounds while the armed robbers also escaped with gunshot wounds. He said the police were able to recover two buses out of the three the robbers used in their operation at the banks, saying the robbers gained entry into only one bank at Cannan Land premises.
"The property is a private property. What happened was that robbers went to one of the banks, but because the banks were concentrated in a complex that was the reason why some people are saying that they attacked other banks. However, while the operation was on our men arrived the place and during the exchange of gunfire, two of our men were shot. Some of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds.
This was evident in the bloodstains that were in the two vehicles that were recovered by the police. The robbers came in three vehicles," he added.
A source in Cannan Land who spoke to THISDAY on phone pleading anonymity,however, said contrary to the PPRO's claim, the robbers succeeded in gaining entry into three banks and made away with several millions of naira. According to the source, the robbers had already succeeded and were going away with their loot when the police came and engaged them in a gun battle. THISDAY reliably learnt that the robbers gained access into the complex by pretending to be early morning customers. They were said to have held both staff of the banks and customers hostage at gunpoint. While some of the robbers were alleged to have stayed outside to ward off intruders, about five others allegedly went round collecting all the cash that was on the counter, before heading for the branch manager offices. Members of the gang who were out side fired sporadic shots into the air to warn those who were around that they were there for business. The attack, they said brought business and human activities to a halt, as those who were around scampered to safety for fear of being caught up in the melee. The police men who were allegedly killed were among the team that were drafted to the place by the time the news of the robbery got to the Command Headquarters. The robbers were said to have opened fire immediately at the approaching police patrol van killing two of them on the spot.
Though, the policemen were equally said to have put up a fight when they realized that they were being attacked, not even one of the robbers was killed in the cross fire which later ensued. One of the witnesses told THISDAY that the robbers also attacked one Micro-Finance company located in the same complex.
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