Bank Robbers Kill 2 Policemen As Gunmen Kill DCP In Sokoto

Two policemen were in the early hours of yesterday killed when a gang of armed robbers numbering about 12 attacked an Iju Ishaga Agege branch of a new generation bank. The slain policemen were said to have put up a stiff resistance during a gun duel lasting 15 minutes before they succumbed to the gangsters’ superior fire power. The armed gang, it was gathered, carted away a yet to be disclosed large amount of money during the raid. While some of the gang members positioned themselves outside to ward off intruders, it was learnt, others scaled the fence and tied up the night guards on duty. Thereafter, they were said to have fired some shots at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), thereby pulling it down. The gunshots, it was said, alerted some policemen on patrol around the area, who reportedly raced to the scene to engage the robbers in a shoot-out. But on sighting the policemen, eye witnesses said, the gang members stationed outside opened fire on them. In the ensuing gun duel two of the policemen fell. One of the slain policemen was simply identified as Inspector Nafiu. LEADERSHIP learnt that when two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and combined teams of conventional and Mobile Policemen drafted from Area ‘G’ command, Ogba, arrived the scene, the robbers had fled in their vehicles, leaving the two dead policemen in the pool of their own blood. Effort to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide failed as her phone rang without response. Although a management staff of the affected bank’s headquarters confirmed the incident but said the robbers were unable to break into the vault. In a related development, unknown gunmen, yesterday night shot and killed the Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Sokoto Central prison, Usman Zaki Gwandu, authorities confirmed. The suspected gunmen trailed him and finally rained bullets on his car leading to his death along Polytechnic road within the State metropolis. The gunmen after carrying out there dastardly act left without touching anything in the car according to sources, which preferred anonymity. According to residents within the polytechnic area, they heard spontaneous gunshots at about 10pm along the road but were frightened to come out less they become victims of stray bullets. -- Leadership