Commercial
activities at Ijora Badia, in the Apapa area of Lagos State, came to a
halt on Wednesday when policemen and robbers engaged in a gun duel.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the
robbers, who had arrived Marine Bridge on several power bikes, dislodged
a bullion van laden conveying a huge amount of money from its escort
vehicle by opening fire at them.
It was said that the robbers started
shooting sporadically into the air to scare motorists and residents, and
attempted to escape with the bullion van. Their progress was said to
have been slowed down by heavy traffic.
Our correspondent learnt that 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.
It was learnt that the Navy personnel
and the others, who were injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for
treatment. As of press time, the condition of the injured could not be
ascertained.
The Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos Police Command, Ngozi Braide, told our correspondent on the
telephone that the remaining suspects escaped with bullet wounds.
Braide said, “The DPO of Apapa Division
was informed of the gunfire around Ijora Badia Bridge and dispatched a
team of anti-robbery policemen. The robbers opened fire on the policemen
and our men retaliated. One of the robbers was killed, another
arrested, while the others escaped with bullet wounds.
“A yellow unregistered power bike, with
the inscription, Apache Hipar, was recovered from the robbers as well as
two Ak-47 rifles with double magazine each loaded with 30 rounds of
ammunition.
“Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects but normalcy has returned to the area.”
PUNCH
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