Bloody Sunday as Robbers Kill Seven in Lagos Raid

ROBBERS INVADE LAGOS, KILL 3 POLICEMEN, CIVILIAN

Armed robbers, numbering about 12, robbed in different parts of Lagos State on Sunday killing three policemen and a commercial bus driver.

One of the policemen and the driver, who were killed at the PWD area of Ikeja by the rampaging robbers, were both in a commercial vehicle with number plate XQ 336 EKY.

The two other policemen, who were in a patrol van, were killed on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.

Also, a one-year-old baby identified as Taiye and several others sustained gunshot wounds when some armed robbers suspected to be members of the same gang invaded Gbagada later in the day.

Other places where the gang robbed between 1pm and 3pm – were Agege, Anthony, Ojodu, Itire, Ikeja and Ilasamaja areas of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the hoodlums attacked various bureau de change operators in the respective areas, robbed motorists and shot policemen.

One of our correspondents, who visited Gbagada, reported that the robbers also robbed recharge card vendors, food sellers and riddled many vehicles with bullets.

A witness, who declined to give his name, said the robbers came in two vehicles.

He said, “Around 1pm, robbers stormed Roundabout Bus Stop (Gbagada) in a Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Camry and started shooting into the air.

“Three policemen in a white Volkswagen car confronted them but one of the policemen was shot. The policemen immediately entered the vehicle and drove off.

“The robbers then proceeded to a recharge card vendor’s shop and stole her money. They also robbed some motorists in the process.

“While shooting indiscriminately, a stray bullet hit Taiye, a one-year-old baby, who was outside. Another resident, Sikiru Abiodun, who was in his car, sustained injuries as well. The policemen ran away and did not even come back to help victims as the robbers operated unhindered for 30 minutes.”

We lost millions of naira –Bureau de Change operators

The Chairman of the bureau de change operators at Gbagada, Alhaji Jubril Mukaila, said the robbers made away with millions of naira and shot one of his members.

He said, “I was in my shop when some robbers pointed guns at me and asked for my money. Because I did not respond on time, they started shooting indiscriminately.

“They shot one of my boys, Asumo, and then riddled the whole shop with bullets. They took away all the money in my drawer and then pushed Asumo and me on the floor. They carried chairs and placed them on top of us before fleeing.

“The robbers went to other bureau de change operators and robbed them as well before fleeing.”

One of our correspondents, who visited Gbagada General Hospital, reported that scores of sympathisers trooped in to see the victims.

The baby was placed on drip while the other victims were sedated.

The Divisional Police Officer, Ifako, also came to the hospital to allay the fears of residents, who narrated their ordeal to him.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers were deployed in different areas and used different methods to rob their victims.

LASTMA official shot

It was learnt that at Anthony, another armed robbery gang who operated on a motorcycle, shot a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority official identified simply as Sosan.

A colleague of the LASTMA official, who declined to give his name, said Sosan sustained gunshot wounds to his legs.

“The robbers at Anthony came on okada and opened fire on us even though we were not armed. The bullet pierced through Sosan’s right leg and entered into the left.”

The Public Relations Officer, LASTMA, Mrs. Bola Ajao, who confirmed the shooting of the official, said he was responding to treatment.

“He lost a lot of blood but he was rushed to the hospital on time and he’s responding to treatment,” she said.

It was learnt that the armed robbers, who wreaked havoc in Anthony area, were six and arrived the area at about 1pm on three motorcycles.

An eyewitness said they flagged down vehicles and robbed innocent motorists with impunity.

It was further learnt that the LASTMA official, who was controlling traffic in the area, and did not know that they were armed robbers, challenged them for parking indiscriminately on the road.

This, it was learnt angered the robbers, who shot the LASTMA officials before escaping on their motorcycles.

A medical doctor attached to the private hospital where the LASTMA official was taken for first aid said he was shot in his right leg.

He said, “He was brought in here after the incident for emergency first aid treatment. He was shot in his right leg but there was entrance of the bullet into his left foot.

“A LASTMA pick up came here to pick him and he has been taken to the Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment.”

A newspaper vendor in the area, who declined to give his name, said, “I overheard the LASTMA official querying the men who he didn’t know were robbing motorists on why they parked their motorcycles indiscriminately on the road and all of a sudden one of them shot him.” 

Motorists, pedestrians scamper to safety

A security guard attached to one of the banks in the area said the robbers operated for over 10 minutes before speeding off with their loot.

The guard who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “I was seated on the premises of the bank and I just suddenly saw vehicles coming into Anthony Village Road from Ikorodu Road turning back. Pedestrians returning from church were also seen running helter skelter.

“As a security guard, I sought to know what was happening and I saw the robbers dispossess a woman driving a blue jeep of her belongings. They broke her side window when she resisted them.

“As they were robbing her, a white man who was in a chauffeur-driven Toyota Ascent car alighted and ran away. His driver also immediately reversed into Ikorodu Road. As soon as I saw this, I alerted the man using the Automated Teller Machine on our premises and we both scampered for safety.”

A trader in the area who identified himself as Gabriel said he abandoned his wares and fled the scene when the robbers shot the LASTMA official.

 He said, “I never knew they were robbers. I just saw the LASTMA official close to the robbers and all of a sudden I saw them shoot him in the leg and he fell down. On seeing this, I ran for dear life.

When one of our correspondents visited the scene of the incident, policemen attached the Anthony Division were seen returning after giving the robbers a chase.

One of the policemen told a trader in the area, “We chased the robbers through Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and we engaged them in a gun duel but unfortunately they escaped.”

There was pandemonium in the Agege area of the state on Sunday as robbers, who were coming back from an operation shot into the air, making people, including policemen to scamper for safety.

It was learnt that the robbers, who were coming from Agunbiade Street, were prevented from making a quick escape by the gridlock in the area around 3pm. They shot into the air to scare a driver, who blocked their movement.

Following the gunshots, the gridlock immediately cleared, making it easy for the robbers to move away from the area.

One of our correspondents observed that there were three police divisions in the area – Pen Cinema, Railway and Elere – but none was able to prevent the escape.

It was later learnt that the robbers had operated in Oke-Koto, Agege, where they allegedly robbed some bureau de change operators.

Eyewitnesses said policemen, who were on traffic duties and security patrol abandoned their duty posts.

POLICEMEN, TRAFFIC WARDENS ABANDON DUTY POSTS

Some traffic wardens in Total area of Agege ran into a nearby shoe shop, while others took refuge in a shop selling beverages.

One of our correspondents observed two policemen in an argument with a commercial motorcycle rider before the shooting; but they abandoned the rider on hearing the gunshots.

The rider, who gave his name as Ganiyu, said the policemen were trying to extort money from him when they heard the gunshots.

The shooting created confusion as people abandoned their vehicles on the road and ran for cover. While trying to scamper for safety, a driver, who had abandoned his Mercedes Benz on the road, was hit by a motorcycle rider, who was also trying to flee from the area. The accident was, however, minor.

Drivers of some vehicles, in their desperation to leave the area, also had minor head on collisions.

It was also noticed that the gate of Pen Cinema Police Station was shut to visitors.

Few minutes after the robbers had left, policemen at the station started firing into the air.

PUNCH Metro observed that the policemen shot into the air sporadically for about 30 minutes before two patrol vehicles moved out of the station.

Immediately after patrol vans from Pen Cinema Police Station left, another patrol team from Elere was seen heading towards Oke-Koto.

POLICE DECLINE COMMENT

All attempts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, proved abortive as several calls made to her telephone rang out.

Also, she did not respond to the text message sent to her line as of press time.