Motorbike robbers snatch N400, 000 in bank premises

There was panic at the Isolo area of Lagos State yesterday morning, after four armed men on two motorbikes, snatched a handbag containing N400, 000 from a lady moments after she stepped out from the banking hall of a new generation bank.

The lady was said to have wailed in distress, lamenting it was a loan she just collected.

Determined to collect the handbag from the lady, the robbers shot sporadically into the air. The gunshots didn’t only compel the lady to relinquish the bag fast, but it also made policemen who were attached to the bank to scamper for safety.

It was learnt that the armed robbers, numbering about four, rode on two motorcycles to the bank and laid ambush for the woman. Immediately she stepped out of the bank, the robbers swooped.

Moments after the robbers escaped on their motorbikes, the bank alerted the police, claiming that bank robbers had invaded the bank.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, also intercepted the radio message and ordered a team of operatives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), to race to the scene.

The policemen quickly donned their bulletproof vests and zoomed off, heading to the bank.

They had already primed and corked their rifles, expecting to war with seasoned bank robbers, only to meet the distressed bank customer, rolling on the ground and lamenting that a bank loan she collected from the bank had just been snatched.

A police source said: “The incident happened around 10am. The robbers were on two motorbikes. They had been patrolling the area, acting like they were waiting for a passenger. Immediately the lady stepped out of the bank, one of the motorbikes blocked her and demanded for the money. She initially refused to hand over the money until they started shooting into the air. She quickly handed over the money. They escaped on their motorbikes.”

The sporadic shootings also made residents and passers-by to scamper for safety. The victim rolled on the ground, calling for policemen to assist her recover her money.

Another source said: “Before SARS men reached the scene, the robbers had already disappeared with the money. SARS men are on surveillance of the entire area. They are there now to protect the bank and look for clues to use in trailing the robbers.” 

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Joe Offor, said that the incident happened at Ilasa. He added: “SARS operatives went to the scene in order to save the situation, but before our men got there, the robbers had escaped. We’re going to get them.”