One person
was feared dead yesterday following a daylight robbery by suspected armed
robbers along Wellington Bassey Way in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
Eyewitness told
The Guardian that the robbers had trailed a Toyota Camry car with Akwa Ibom
State plate number AK705 C01, whom they suspected to have made some withdrawal
in one of the second generation banks along the road, name withheld.
It was
gathered that being a busy road leading to the state government house, several
other passers-by sustained bullet wounds as police engaged the armed robbers in
a gun duel along the Wellington Bassey Way.
The driver
and the lady occupant of the car alleged to be one of the secretaries in deputy
governor’s office was said to have gone to the bank to withdraw some
undisclosed amount for urgent transaction but was trailed to a few meters to
the Government House where the robbers ambushed the vehicle.
Eyewitnesses
account also told The Guardian that at Paul Bassey Street by Brooks Street,
residents of the area were also seen picking some of the money that had fallen
from the robbers’ vehicle during a crossfire.
They said
the robbers were making frantic efforts to load the money into another vehicle
when the tyres of their vehicle was shot by the police. One of the robbers was
said to have wielded two AK47 rifles, shooting at every direction to scare away
road users.
“As the
driver was going through Paul Bassey Street, he noticed that some people were
chasing him. As he tried to link Brooks Street, the vehicle crashed into an
oncoming Toyota Camry car that was going along the street, it was then the
robbers blocked access to the government vehicle conveying the money.
“It was at this
instance that the robbers seized the vehicle, opened fire from all directions,
and shattered the boot of the vehicle and doors to get access into the vehicle
and pick up the money that was loaded in a Ghana-Must-Go bag.
“As they
were moving the money into another vehicle, some residents scrambled over the
fallen cash when a man was allegedly hit by stray bullet along Barracks Road
for also picking the money that dropped on the floor,” he said.
According to
another report, the unidentified victim was killed and several others injured
when the police allegedly opened fire on people scrambling for the money
scattered in the streets that was left behind after the armed robbers had fled
the scene.
Confirming
the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO), DSP Chukwu
Ikechukwu, said he has been briefed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in
charge of the ‘A’ Division Wellington Bassey Way Uyo but would report back with
more information when fully brief. This was still awaited as at the time of
filing this report.
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