1st November, 2011
Gunmen on Monday attacked the Akamkpa Divisional Police station on the outskirts of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, South-South Nigeria, and made away with arms and ammunition with which they robbed an old generation bank in the area.
The gang reportedly carted away millions of naira from the bank.
The robbers numbering seven, eye witnesses said, invaded the police station in a jeep at about 3 p.m. and shot indiscriminately.
The policemen on duty were reported to have fled, leaving the station open for the robbers to make away with arms and ammunition.
“After the police ran away, the robbers took their guns and from there drove straight to the premises of the bank where they blew up the bank’s gate with explosive.
“The policemen guarding the bank also escaped along with the bank staff and the robbers then went in and packed the money in bags into their car and drove off,†a teacher in Akamkpa Secondary School, told P.M.NEWS.
Witnesses said millions of naira was carted away by the robbers in what one of them described as the “first successful bank robbery in the state”.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Cross River Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Michael Bassey confirmed the robbery incident.
The police, he said, were yet to make any arrest but investigations are in progress towards apprehending the hoodlums.
The Legal Officer at the affected bank’s headquarters in Calabar, Mr. Andy Oni said the amount stolen by the robbers was yet to be ascertained until complete investigations are made by the team that would be sent down from Lagos.
By Emma Una/Calabar