The spate of bank robbery in Lagos State continued yesterday as dare devil gunmen launched attack on another bank in Epe.

The onslaught was, however, repelled by the police.

Yesterday's attempt at robbing a bank in the state is the third in a roll of such attacks in the last seven days. The first one was the attack on a bank in Oke Arin in which several persons lost their lives, while the second was another new generation bank in Isolo. All the three robberies were successfully foiled by the police.

Though, yesterdays robbery was foiled, sources alleged that the robbers who arrived the bank located near the sea in Aiyetoro area of Epe entered the premises of the bank through the creek in a speed boat.

According to the source, about 15 heavily armed men who arrived the bank through the creek with house breaking implements had barely settled down to break into the bank's strong room when the police team raided the place in several patrol vans.

As soon as they arrived, the source stated that the hoodlums held the security men on duty hostage at gun point. They went on to bind the hands of the guards with wire and headed straight for the banking hall.

"They were said to have broken into the bank through the front door. They moved into the bank with various types of equipment's," the source added.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Olubode Ojajuni, who confirmed the robbery in a press statement yesterday said the police team was attracted to the area by the sound of gun shots.

He said in a swift response, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Epe Police Station and Anti-Robbery policemen from the station who heard the gun shot headed towards the direction .

"Within a shot time they were able to trace the gun shot to First Bank. During a fierce gun battle the hoodlums fled, abandoning some of their implements in the process", he added.

Ojajuni who praised the officers who confronted the robbers further stated that a thorough search of the banking premises revealed that the robbers were on the verge of breaking into the bank's strong room when the police arrived.

While the mission was hurriedly abandoned by the robbers, some of whom fled with bullet wounds, he stated 107 expended ammunition and one 7.62mm calibre ammunition were recovered at the scene.

Also recovered were other house burgling equipment's. The PRO stated that when the bank manager whom he identified as Jerome Ojolo arrived later at the bank and after he had gone round the banking premises, including the strong room with the police confirmed that no cash or any valuables was stolen by the robbers. And that police from the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti Street, Yaba had taking over investigation of the matter.

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Eugene Agha
Lagos

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