The Nigerian Police has foiled an armed Robbery attack on Access Bank Branch in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
The armed robbers were also arrested with recovery of catches of arms and ammunition, the Police said late Thursday.
In a statement, the Nigerian Police listed the arrested suspects to include; Samuel Ndudiri, a 28-year-old and a staff of the Bank). Ndudiri is also believed to be a principal suspect and the mastermind of the foiled armed robbery attack.
Also arrested is Promise Ukwuoma, an ex Police Sergent who had been dismissed
Others includel Samuel Nwala ‘M’ 28 years, Lucky Ukwuoma ‘M’26 years, Kaale Taagabah ‘M’ 27 years
Arms recovered from the robbers are; Two (2) AK 47 Rifles and magazines fully loaded with Ammunition, A welding machine, two (2) Gas cylinders and iron cutters, big Chisel, Cutting saw, Hammer, and Acetylene gas power
Narrating how the operation was conducted, DCP Don N. Awunah, Force Public Relation Officer, said; “On the 22nd December, 2016, the five (5) suspects mentioned above and other still at large stormed a Branch of Access Bank PLC in Port Harcourt, relying on information and active involvement of one of the staff of the Bank, the armed robbers successfully broke down the well fortified security doors and barriers and took over the banking hall. They were almost pulling down the vault of the Bank and other strong rooms in the bank with use of gas cylinder welding machine and iron cutters before the joint Police Teams of IGP’S Intelligence Response Team and Policemen from Rivers state Police Command swiftly moved in and dislodged them, thereby foiled the armed robbery attack on the Bank and made a prompt arrest of three (3) of the suspects at the scene; namely Samuel Nwala ‘M’ 28 years, Lucky Ukwuoma ‘M’ 26 years, Kaale Taagabah ‘M’ 27 years
“In the course of thorough investigation into the foiled armed robbery attack on the Bank, the principal suspect who is a staff of the Bank and the master mind of the armed robber attack was subsequently arrested based on the confessional statements volunteered by the last three suspects arrested at the scene. The arrest of the principal suspect led to the arrest of Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma who participated actively in the armed robbery attack on the Bank, the two (2) AK 47 riffles and the ammunition were recovered from him. All the suspects have volunteered confessional and useful statements to the Police about the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
“However, concerted efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and bring them to justice.
The case will be charged to court on completion of investigation.