Armed robbers invade two banks in Lagos, Carts away cash

Suspected armed robbers numbering about 10 on Wednesday invaded two major commercial banks at the Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, carting away an undisclosed amount of money.


The hoodlums who were said to have packed their loots inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle they allegedly brought, according to eyewitnesses, overpowered policemen at the Ebute Ipakodo station located opposite the banks.



It was learnt that the robbers had escaped through the waterways after successfully carrying out the operation that lasted for more than one hour.

Although it could not be confirmed if casualties were recorded in the course of their sporadic shooting, The Nation gathered that the early morning attack scared bank customers and motorists off the busy Ogolonto road.

This attack is coming barely three weeks after a group of armed robbers attacked two commercial banks -First and Wema banks- in Ikorodu, of which security sources claimed the culprits have been uncovered and were being trailed.

A security source who spoke with The Nation last week disclosed that the culprits' hideout inside an Ikorodu swam has been uncovered, adding that plans were underway to round them up.

But with yesterday's robbery taking the same strategy as the last one,  the source when contacted said he was positive it was the same armed robbers.

He also stated that there is a possibility are part of the group that robbed two banks in Lekki some months ago, adding that the Anti-Robbery Squad would not relent until they are caught and brought to justice.

Yesterday's attack however generated anger among social media users with many accusing the police of only showing up after the armed gang had successfully escaped with their loots.

Others however said the armed men who were unmasked,  engaged in gun battles with the police on their way out and overpowered the security agency.

A source who claimed she was not far from the scene explained that aside shooting sporadically,  the robbers also had and detonated explosives, giving them easy access into the banks.

Efforts to get official reaction from the police spokesman in the state, DSP Ken Nwosu proved abortive as he promised to get back to the reporter but did not as at the time of filing this story.

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