Bank Robbery Gets Unusually fatal and extract from thisday newspaper By Yemi Akinsuyi, 12.14.2006


In an unusual manner, dare devil armed robbers yesterday struck two areas of Lagos metropolis, leaving about 17 people, including a mobile policeman dead.
While a set of the robbers unleashed terror at the popular Lagos Alaba International Market in the early hours of yesterday, another set, later in the day robbed the Ikorodu branch of Intercontinental Bank Plc.
At the Alaba market, an eye witness account said more than 30 armed men visited the market around 12 midnight and robbed a bank, before moving from one shop to the other, killing 15 people, suspected to be apprentices who had slept inside the shops.
The robbers, who were said to be armed to the teeth, started their evil acts by midnight and did not leave the market until around 5am.
Those who lost their lives were said to have been caught unawares, and in the process of trying to escape, were shot by the criminals, for fear of being reported to the nearby Police Station.
The robbers were said to have left with an unspecified but very huge amount of cash in different currencies and denominations.
Shop owners and traders at the electronics market were shocked yesterday morning, when they saw the number of people killed during the robbery.
Also at Ikorodu branch of Intercontinental Bank Plc, armed robbers unleashed terror and killed two people, a mobile policeman and a member of the Oodua Peoples' Congress (OPC). Unconfirmed report had it that the bank had employed the OPC member as a guard.
Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ikorodu, Mr. Kola Iwasanmi, who confirmed the report stated that the robbers could not gain entrance into the strong room of the bank, despite all the gadgets, including gas cylinders and iron cutters used for the operation. Iwasanmi told THISDAY last night that immediately the police were informaed of the robbery, they (police) responded and battled the men of the underworld, who later took to their heels.
He said more than 600 empty shells of ammunition expended by the robbers were picked after the fierce battle with the police.
Meanwhile, two persons were feared killed yesterday, when officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Prisons officials clashed at the Kirikiri area, also in Lagos.
A middle-aged man, who pleaded anonymity told THISDAY last night that some Prisons officials were carrying out routine check along the road that led to the barracks in Kirikiri, when a Naval officer was asked to stop which he obliged. But when it was obvious that the prison officials were delaying him unnecessarily, he decided to move his car.
According to the witness, the action of the Naval officer angered the prison officials who ran after the car, dragged the officer out and beat him, an action which infuriated some other Naval officers and ratings. The problem however degenerated into fisticuff with sudden sounds of gun shots which may have caused the death of two on-lookers who could not run for cover. When contacted on phone yesterday, the Public Relations Officer, Western Naval Command, Commander Kate Frankfort said she has not been briefed on the clash. She stated that she had gone for a medical examination on Lagos Island, but promised to get to THISDAY whenever she gets the full information.
Efforts to get the Prisons to react to the clash proved abortive as the Public Relations Officer, Zone A, Lagos, Mr. Ope Fatinikun's mobile phones were switched off.