Daredevil robbers attacked a commercial bank in the Abaji area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, killing a police officer. In response, angry residents pursued the robbers and set ablaze the corpse of one gunman caught on Thursday.
A police officer told Daily Trust that the robbers first attacked the police station along Toto Road, where an inspector, identified as Abila, was shot dead. The robbers, who arrived in two unmarked vehicles, began firing into the police station. “In fact, it was God that saved me because when the robbers alighted from the vehicle, they started shooting into the police station. While I managed to escape, an inspector who had earlier escaped later turned back because they had shot him in the chest,” he said.
Some gang members then proceeded to the First Bank branch located at the roundabout and started shooting sporadically. A bank staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the robbers could not access the strong room where the bulk monies were kept but made away with some cash at the counter. The robbers first shot a guard who ran into the toilet of the bank security house before entering the bank.
A combined team of police, soldiers, vigilantes, and hunters quickly mobilized to the scene and engaged the robbers in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the deaths of two robbers. An angry mob seized one of the corpses and set it ablaze.
FCT police commissioner, CP Benneth Igweh, who later arrived at the scene with police officers, confirmed that two robbers were shot dead during the exchange of gunfire with security operatives. He said the police anti-robbery squad and hunters had been deployed in the bush to trace the fleeing robbers. CP Igweh commended the efforts of the combined security team for foiling the attack and commiserated with the family of the deceased inspector.