Dare-devil
armed robbers yesterday hijacked a bullion van on Asaba-Benin Expressway,
killed a police escort and stole the money said to be about N25 million.
The attack
occurred between Otulu and Ubulu-Okiti in Delta State.
Police have
arrested the cash management officer of Asaba Branch of the bank, the chief
security officer and two drivers because of the attack.
The state
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed
their arrest, said it followed preliminary investigation which revealed that,
in a bid to cut corners, the bank officials illegally picked seven police
officers from different locations, yet to be determined, and engaged them on an
illegal escort for the conveyance of the money from bank’s branch at Agbor to
Asaba, without using a serviceable, secure armoured bullion van as required by
law.
He said:
“Needless to state that when the bank officials earlier approached the
Operations Department of the command for escort men, their request was turned
down on the grounds that the bank does not have a serviceable bullion van
needed for such operations.
“Sadly,
during the attack, one of the police escorts was fatally injured by the armed
robbers who also emptied the N25,000,000 into their cars – a Honda Pilot ‘jeep’
and Toyota Corolla, registration numbers unknown, and escaped.”
The
attackers, numbering six, it was learnt, ambushed the unserviceable bullion
van, opened fire on the security escorts before killing one of them during an
ensuing shootout.
They armed
robbers overwhelmed the remaining six surviving police escorts.
The PPRO
warned that, henceforth, banks requiring police escort must adhere to laid down
regulations on specie escort, especially during the ember-months.
Aniamaka
reassured members of the public that no stone would be left unturned in
ensuring that the fleeing armed robbers were apprehended and brought to book.
However,
there is apprehension among residents of Otulu and Ubulu-Okiti communities over
the attack.
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