The timely intervention of the police in Auchi, Edo, on Monday night? prevented dare devil armed robbers from completely over running the local branches of two different banks in the town.
The hoodlums, shortly after 10 p.m., reportedly launched simultaneous attacks on the banks both of which are located on Warranke Road.
NAN also reports that though the robbers did not succeed in their mission, they completely destroyed the banking hall, the manager’s office and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of one of the banks.
The robbers, who were said to have come in two groups, attacked the two banks after blocking the entrance and exit points of Warranke road that connects the two banks.
NAN learnt that the robbers, who attacked the banks in a commando style, held the residents of the area hostage in their houses as they fired sporadically into the air while they made free use of explosives (dynamite) during the raid.
Although there were no reports of death or injury to people during the operation that lasted for about an hour and thirty minutes, the robbers gained access into the banking hall after destroying the security door with explosives.
They also left the building housing the bank in shambles while in one of the banks, shattered remains of computers sets, furniture and other office equipment were seen littering the ground.
One of the banks was, however, “luckier” as only a bullet pierced its ATM without causing significant damage.
Mr. Ahmed Umaru, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Auchi police station, told NAN that the robbers did not succeed in taking any money from the banks.
He said the police responded swiftly to an alert on the robbery and succeeded in “chasing away” the robbers from one of the banks.
Asked what the police force would do about the robbers' new approach to robbing banks in the night rather than day-time, the DPO said that police would respond accordingly.
“Since they have decided to change pattern, we will also tell them that we are battle ready for them, anytime, any day.''
A member of staff of one of the banks told NAN said that they could not ascertain for now if the robbers succeeded or not in their mission.
“We cannot really tell you anything for now until we carry out some verification.
“All we can tell you is that nobody was killed or injured during the attack.”
However, an eye-witness, Alhaji Abdulahi Mohammed, dismissed police claim that they reacted quickly to the alert.
“The police did not come until about thirty minutes into the operation. I had informed the Otaru of Auchi (the paramount ruler of the town) who in turn immediately alerted the police on the robbery.
“I still had to call Otaru back about twenty minutes later and he confirmed to me that he had immediately called the police, who said they were on their way.
“We did not see the police until about thirty minutes later when we heard the noise of siren form their Armoured Personnel carrier (APC).''
Meanwhile, banks in the area say they would remain closed until after the meeting of the Auchi branch of the Bankers Forum.
The branch chairman, Mr. Bash Sanusi, refused to comment on the robbery.
“We will make our position known after our meeting later in the day. But for now, all banks in the area remain closed. (NAN)