Bandits kill policeman in Minna bank raid
From Abodunrin Beckley, Minna
PANDEMONIUM broke out on Wednesday in Minna, the Niger State capital as commuters and residents ran for safety when a gang of robbers stormed a commercial bank in the metropolis, killing a police sergeant and carting away huge sums of money.
The eight-member robbery gang, which raided the bank at midday, began shooting indiscriminately and operated in a commando-like fashion.
The bandits, made up of men and women who dressed in suites, disguised their lethal weapons and appeared as security operatives.
Eyewitnesses close to the scene said they were forced to close their shops when they heard rains of bullets, which were shot by the robbers on their arrival at the bank.
The witnesses added that the robbery operation lasted for about 15 minutes, leaving the police sergeant identified as Umar Audu dead while others remained locked up in the building.
"At about 17 minutes after the robbers stormed the bank, the bank workers were seen carrying "Ghana-must-go" bags filled up with naira notes into cars parked outside and the robbers later sped off towards the Kontagora end of Bosso road in a black Mercedes V-boot Benz, driven by a lady while the others were in a BMW and Mercedes 190 Benz cars," a witness added.
While the police victim was unlucky, several others who fled for their lives narrated of how bullets pierced and scattered their cars and buildings.
One of the eyewitnesses who spoke under anonymity said that God spared his life from stray bullets, which hit his Audi 80 car and pierced through the driver's seat to puncture the tyre of a Peugeot 504 that was parked behind him, after he had abandoned his car to save his life.
Speaking on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Lawal Shinkafi, confirmed that the police sergeant, who was deployed to the bank that same day, was killed and his remains had been deposited at the mortuary.
He added that further investigation on the incident was ongoing.
But another source within the police high command said a speedy dragnet was extended to the Kagwa end of the state where one of the bandits in military fatigue was killed while the others escaped.
As at press time, the state Commissioner for Police, Ernest Ibhaze, was said to be holding an emergency security meeting with Governor Abdulkadir Kure and the director of State Security Services (SSS).
