Two bank customers lose N4m to robbers in Abeokuta

The development came shortly after the state police command paraded 20 suspects arrested for different crimes in recent times in the state. The two victims had visited the bank on the fateful day, but in what appeared to be a new twist to robbery incidents in Abeokuta, the state capital, there were suspicions that there […]

The development came shortly after the state police command paraded 20 suspects arrested for different crimes in recent times in the state.

The two victims had visited the bank on the fateful day, but in what appeared to be a new twist to robbery incidents in Abeokuta, the state capital, there were suspicions that there were insider’ connections with the robberies.

One of the victims, whose identity could not be immediately ascertained as at press time, was shot by the gang who trailed him on a motorbike commonly called “Okada” to a point at Asero area of the town, before dispossessing him of the money. While the Asero-bound victim was attacked in the morning period, the second fell to the gang at about 2.00pm after being trailed and accosted along Quarry road, Ibara. The first victim, it was further learnt, withdrew the sum of about N1.5m and was specifically told at gun-point the amount, and his resistance led to his being shot. An unconfirmed report disclosed that the man died.

The second victim who spoke with Oodua Trust on condition of anonymity, said that he arrived the bank at about 1.30pm and left the premises after keeping the N2.5 million in his car boot. “Shortly after entering the popular Oke Ilewo road, I observed that an Okada man was after me. At the Ibara round about, I wanted to stop at the police checkpoint in the area but they were not there.

“After I made the bend at the Post Office roundabout to link Quarry road, I observed that the Okada was no where to be found so, I heaved a sigh of relief. But, I barely covered 20 metres when I saw from my rear glass the three Okadas with their lights fully on and I knew there was trouble.”

The Delta-state born senior public official added that he had wanted to increase speed “but for the heavy vehicles ahead of me. So they caught up with me at the Customs junction pointing guns at me to stop. They asked straight for the money I had just collected at the Intercontinental bank. By that time, they had temporarily held the area hostage leaving me at their mercy.

“One of them followed me to the back of the car and ensured that the money was the actual amount. He thanked me for co-operating with them saying they could have wasted me.” The man told Oodua Trust that the memories of the robbery would continue to linger in his mind.