At least five persons were killed yesterday when dare devil armed robbers engaged police officersat Ayobo-Ipaja area of Lagos State in an attack on a branch of Access Bank in the area.
Two police officers lost their lives in the shootout while three of the suspected robbers were killed. Some policemen were equally injured while many members of the armed robbery gang escaped with bullet wounds.
However, operatives of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS who were immediately drafted to the scene of the robbery succeeded in arresting four members of the gang.
It was gathered that the robbers engaged officers from Ayobo Police Division and SARS operatives in serious gun battle for over 30 minutes, creating fear in the area.
The robbers had reportedly forced their way into the bank and were vandalising the Automated Teller Machines in the bank, when policemen from Ayobo Police Division raced to the scene.
The armed robbers were said to have initially overpowered the police team, after a fierce gun duel and were about escaping from the scene of the robbery when another round of gun duel ensued between them and SARS operatives.
At the end of the ferocious gun battles, four members of the gang were arrested but the gang leader and some of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds.
A resident at Ayobo who spoke with Community Mirror said her experience was scary, saying “considering the magnitude and heavy shooting that characterised the robbery, the entire place was like war zone. The shootings were so sophisticated and scary.”
Confirming the incident; Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide said it was a foiled robbery attempt on a branch of Access Bank.
According to her; “at about 0200 hours, Ayobo Division received a distress call that armed robbers were trying to break Access Bank ATM in the area and patrol team led by ASP Longnus Amuzie, responded swiftly.
“The robbers on sighting the patrol vehicle opened fire, while the police responded and engaged them squarely in a fierce gun duel. Sadly two of our officers lost their lives, while the attempted robbery was forestalled.”
“During this encounter, men of SARS were drafted to the scene and four of the robbers were apprehended as they were fleeing from the area. They are currently undergoing interrogation and assisting the police in investigation.”