Police kill bandits raiding Rivers PUNCH office

AUGUST 26, 2015 : CHUKWUDI AKASIKE, PORT HARCOURT
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Bodies of the two armed robbers at the Mile One Police Division in Port Harcourt on Wednesday
TWO daredevil armed robbers were shot and killed by the police on Wednesday after they robbed The PUNCH office located at Mile One Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The armed robbers had entered the Circulation Office of the media organisation at about 1.30pm and asked the Circulation Manager, Mr. Raheem Olatunde, to surrender the money with him.

It was gathered that one of the hoodlums, who were initially three in number, had escaped during the incident.

While Olatunde refused to talk to them, one of the hoodlums had brandished a gun before him, while the other spotted a yellow bag where the sum of N500,000 meant for operations was kept.

Satisfied that they had taken the money, the bandits rushed down the stair case, but not without violently pushing the Advert Executive, Mrs. Nnena Ochuko, who had unknowingly queried their mission to The PUNCH office.

Narrating the incident to our correspondent, Olatunde explained that it was not up to three minutes he entered the office after his transaction at the bank that two hefty men entered his office with one of them pointing a gun at him.

“While the two of them were searching for the money, one of my friends working for The News noticed that all was not well in my office, decided to ask from a distance what was happening. I winked at him and gave him a sign, which he understood.

“He went down immediately and raised the alarm. A neighbour identified as Nana rushed to the main entrance of the building and locked the gate before the armed robber could get there.

“A crowd was already gathering close to the building housing The PUNCH Newspapers. When the armed robbers got to the gate that was locked by Nana, one of them kicked it with his leg and it flung open,” Olatunde said.

Realising that a mob had already gathered, The PUNCH Circulation man explained that one of the armed robbers released the first gunshot that temporarily made the mob to withdraw from the place.

A man, who operates a boutique in the same building also told newsmen that gathered at the place after the incident that the determined mob pursued the armed robbers, who appeared to have run shot of bullets.

The boutique operator, who is simply called Best, said the armed robbers were not familiar with the terrain and suspected that an insider must have been directing one of them through the telephone on how to get their target.

“We saw one of them making calls and from what he was saying, an insider must have been directing him (armed robber) on how to get to Olatunde’s office without wasting time.

“The crowd chased the armed robbers up to Abakaliki Street and when they ran out of bullets, they ran into a restaurant. The mob began to throw stones, bottles and other dangerous objects into the restaurant.

“The mob later dragged one of them out of the restaurant, gave him a beating of his life before the police came in. The armed robber that was holding the bag containing the money was later caught, after he tried to escape from where he was hiding before he was shot,” another eyewitness added.

At the Mile One Police Division, a huge crowd had gathered to view the bodies of the two armed robbers that were later thrown into a patrol vehicle before they were driven away.

Olatunde, who was still shocked as a result of the incident, said the police released the sum of N250,000 to him as the amount recovered from the armed robbers.

He, however, hailed Port Harcourt residents and passersby, who were able to form a mob that ensured that the two armed robbers did not escape.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, hailed the police and members of the public for their speedy response in foiling the robbery attempt.

Mohammad, who was at the Mile One Police Division to see the bodies of the criminals, said, “Definitely, the Commissioner of Police has assured us of timely response. Our men went into action as part of the timely response and two of the suspected robbers were fatally wounded (died as a result of gunshot injuries) while the other two escaped.

“I know that these bad people are on the prowl, trailing innocent people to rob them. But the state police command is not relenting too. These bad elements can choose to repent or they keep on with their criminal acts. But one day, we will get them as we did today.

“I will advise members of the public to reduce physical banking transaction and go more for electronic transaction since the ATMs are there. Physical banking transaction should only be done when it is unavoidable,” Mohammad said.
http://www.punchng.com/news/police-kill-bandits-raiding-rivers-punch-office/

The Sad end of Crime

Who might have taken 250k ?

Ha!
Na wa..... This one na get rich or die trying

My Question is: why did police say they recovered #250,000 Instead Of the #500,000 they stole. Hmmmm, workshop

Blood everywhere. I tire. Nneka123 ...I need a hug abeg. Whew!

But in the other news, a crippled man was working(repairing phone) but, this 2 baboons choose to harvest from where they didn't cultivate..






Tonda Fayadem