Police foil bank robbery in Asaba

BARELY one week after a first generation bank was raided at Agbor, there was another attempt to rob another bank in Asaba supposedly  by the same gang,  state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, has said.

Briefing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, he said it was the same gang that struck at the first generation bank in Agbor on June 21, 2013 that attempted, in the early hours of yesterday, to raid the Asaba branch of the new generation bank located on Nnebisi Road, Asaba.

His words: “On June 30, 2013 at about 0200 hours at a new generation bank (names withheld), Nnebisi Road Asaba, police patrol team from ‘A’ Division Asaba had fierce gun duel with a gang of robbers numbering about 12 who came in three different vehicles in an attempt to rob the bank.

“At the end of the gun battle, due to superior fire power and gallantry of the policemen, the hoodlums were forced to abandon their evil mission and escaped with bullet wounds while the leader of the patrol team sustained bullet wound and is now responding to treatment in hospital. The patrol vehicle was also damaged.

“Items recovered at the scene were 53 empty shells of AK47 rifle, ammunition, one Mazda 626 car, one Pathfinder SUV, one Ford Mondoeo, two gas cylinders, one shifting spanner, one digger and two AK 47 magazines containing four rounds of live ammunition.

“It would be recalled that on 21/6/2013 the same gang struck at Agbor and it was believed that the Operations Manager of the bank (Agbor) invited the robbers as the two keys to the strong room which were supposed to be kept by two different senior officials of the bank were in possession of the Operations Manager. The bank safe was left open and the CCTV was tampered with.”

He told newsmen the Operations Manager would soon be charged to court.

Vanguard