Armed Robbers On Power Bikes Attack Bullion Van In Lagos

Commercial activities at Ijora Badia, in the Apapa area of Lagos State, came to a halt on Wednesday when a group of policemen and armed robbers engaged in a gun duel.

It was said that the robbers started shooting sporadically into the air to scare motorists, attempting to escape in a rush with the bullion van. Their progress was said to have been slowed down by heavy traffic.

According to Punch, the robbers, who had arrived Marine Bridge on several power bikes, dislodged a bullion van conveying a huge amount of money from its escort vehicle by opening fire at them.

The Divisional Police Officer, Apapa, Usman Ndanbabo, and policemen from the Area B Command arrived at the scene after being alerted by the sound of gunfire. The robbers reportedly disembarked from the bullion van and engaged the police in a shootout.

Other police divisions within the area command were said to have also blocked all the escape routes and dispatched anti-robbery teams to assist the Apapa Division.

In the gun duel which lasted for several minutes, a member of the Nigerian Navy and two other civilians were said to have sustained injuries.

However, one of the robbers was reportedly shot dead while another was arrested. The Navy personnel and the others, who were injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police say “investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects but normalcy has returned to the area.”