Different gangs of armed robbers operating on motorcycles on Wednesday caused a stampede on Lagos Island as they went on the rampage in some areas.
Photo file
Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro
Two persons, whose identities could not be ascertained as at press time, were reportedly shot dead by the robbers.
The confusion forced many banks, especially on Victoria Island to beef up security around their premises, while some others hurriedly closed to customers.
One of the victims was reportedly killed by the robbers near the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, while the other was killed close to some banks on Victoria Island.
The intervention of mobile policemen attached to Police Mobile Force 2, Keffi, led by Mr. Patrick Ejedawe, a superintendent of police, later led to the arrest of two of the robbers.
One of the suspects, who identified himself as Ifeanyi George, was paraded before journalists while drenched in blood at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, shortly after he was arrested.
Amidst groaning and requesting for water, George told journalists that he was operating on motorcycle with one Sherriff.
One of the victims of the robbers‘ raid, Bolarinwa Segun, said he was robbed of N410,000 in front of a bank located on Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, shortly after he withdrew the money.
He said, ”I have been to some banks where I was turned back. They said they were not attending to customers because of robbers. I later found one (bank) that opened to customers at Akin Adesola.
“I withdrew the money and kept it inside an envelope before putting it inside a polythene bag.
”Immediately I stepped out of the bank, a guy ran towards me with a pistol and snatched the money from me. He quickly mounted a waiting motorcycle and ran away. Some commercial motorcyclists who witnessed the scene from a safe distance mobilised and pursued them.
“Mobile policemen around Falomo joined in the chase towards Onikan roundabout before they veered towards MUSON Centre where they had a collision with a Toyota Corolla car.
“A mobile policeman shot one of them but the rider escaped. They recovered some of the money.”
The robbers, THE PUNCH learnt, stationed themselves at different spots close to the bank premises with the aim of robbing unsuspecting customers.
A top police source told our correspondent that policemen initially had difficulty in arresting the suspects because they (the policemen) did not want innocent citizens to be killed in the process.
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