Armed
robbers snatched a bullion van at Ubulu-Okiti in Aniocha South Local
Government Area of Delta State yesterday. The robbers also killed six
people, including policemen escorting the van. The bullion was conveying
money from Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, to the head office
of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Asaba, the state capital.
Ubulu-Okiti is an agrarian town on Benin-Asaba Expressway. The axis has been known for violent robbery attacks in the past five years. It was on the same road and town that a Commissioner of Police in the state was attacked while on his way from Benin. In that attack, about eight policemen were killed.
A witness told our correspondent that the robbers, numbering 15, who had laid ambush on the road, rode in two vehicles, decked in red T-shirts, covered their faces and heads with caps, bandanas, berets and others. The source said the robbers stormed Ubulu-Okiti in a gang-style manner, stood on top of their vehicles and shoot sporadically to scare away people.
“The display by the robbers triggered fear among hundreds of travellers on the route from Edo, Lagos and Ondo states who were on their way to Onitsha and other states in the East, forcing many vehicles to make a quick U-turn. In the process, some vehicles tumbled. “I was driving towards Asaba when people started shouting robbers, robbers.
As I was pulling aside, I saw policemen in their Hilux van coming to take cover and positioning themselves to face the rampag-ing gang. “But it was the gang members who struck first as they opened fire on the policemen who died instantly. Fortunately for me, no bullet hit me or my car, I just saw the lifeless bodies of policemen,” the witness said.
Another witness, who simply identified himself as Ikechukwu, said: “I escaped being killed by the hoodlums as they suddenly opened fire on policemen who had taken cover beside my car, killing four of them instantly.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed the robbery attack. She said: “I am yet to ascertain if anybody was killed.”
Kalu, however, said those injured were rushed to an undisclosed hospital. She said: “There was a robbery incident this afternoon when armed robbers ran into our men after robbing a bullion van coming from Agbor. They met our men while escaping after attacking the bullion van.
“I do not have record of any death as a result of the incident. What I have is that our men were injured and they have been taken to the hospital for medical attention. Even the civilians that were injured have been taken to the hospital as well.”
NEW TELEGRAPH
Ubulu-Okiti is an agrarian town on Benin-Asaba Expressway. The axis has been known for violent robbery attacks in the past five years. It was on the same road and town that a Commissioner of Police in the state was attacked while on his way from Benin. In that attack, about eight policemen were killed.
A witness told our correspondent that the robbers, numbering 15, who had laid ambush on the road, rode in two vehicles, decked in red T-shirts, covered their faces and heads with caps, bandanas, berets and others. The source said the robbers stormed Ubulu-Okiti in a gang-style manner, stood on top of their vehicles and shoot sporadically to scare away people.
“The display by the robbers triggered fear among hundreds of travellers on the route from Edo, Lagos and Ondo states who were on their way to Onitsha and other states in the East, forcing many vehicles to make a quick U-turn. In the process, some vehicles tumbled. “I was driving towards Asaba when people started shouting robbers, robbers.
As I was pulling aside, I saw policemen in their Hilux van coming to take cover and positioning themselves to face the rampag-ing gang. “But it was the gang members who struck first as they opened fire on the policemen who died instantly. Fortunately for me, no bullet hit me or my car, I just saw the lifeless bodies of policemen,” the witness said.
Another witness, who simply identified himself as Ikechukwu, said: “I escaped being killed by the hoodlums as they suddenly opened fire on policemen who had taken cover beside my car, killing four of them instantly.” The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) confirmed the robbery attack. She said: “I am yet to ascertain if anybody was killed.”
Kalu, however, said those injured were rushed to an undisclosed hospital. She said: “There was a robbery incident this afternoon when armed robbers ran into our men after robbing a bullion van coming from Agbor. They met our men while escaping after attacking the bullion van.
“I do not have record of any death as a result of the incident. What I have is that our men were injured and they have been taken to the hospital for medical attention. Even the civilians that were injured have been taken to the hospital as well.”
NEW TELEGRAPH
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