BANK ROBBERY FOILED: Three Killed in Abuja Shootout

By: Michael Olalekan

A policeman, a security guard, and two armed robbers were killed during a foiled bank robbery in Abuja on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The robbery attempt occurred at a First Bank branch in Abaji, a town in the Federal Capital Territory, at around 5:30 p.m.

According to eyewitnesses, the robbers first attacked a police station, killing an inspector, before proceeding to the bank. A fierce gun battle ensued between the robbers and a combined team of security agents, comprising policemen, soldiers, and vigilantes.

Two of the robbers were killed in the shootout, and one was set ablaze by angry residents who mobbed him. A security guard was also shot by the robbers at the bank.

The police have deployed an anti-robbery squad and hunters to trace the fleeing robbers, who were said to have escaped with injuries. The police also recovered weapons and ammunition from the scene.

The police authorities have vowed to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, CP Babaji Sunday, visited the scene of the incident and promised to leave no stone unturned in the investigation.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that the fleeing robbers are arrested and brought to justice,” CP Sunday said. “We will also review our security strategy to prevent such incidents in the future.”

The bank’s management has also released a statement condemning the attack and commiserating with the families of the victims. “We are saddened by the incident and condole with the families of the policeman and security guard who lost their lives,” the statement said. “We will work with the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

The incident has raised concerns about the security of banks in the region, and residents have called for increased security measures to prevent such incidents in the future. “We need more security presence in our communities to prevent such incidents,” said a resident of Abaji. “The government should do more to protect us.”

The foiled robbery attempt is the latest in a series of bank robberies in the Federal Capital Territory in recent months. In April, a bank in the city was robbed by a group of armed men who made away with millions of naira. In May, another bank was attacked by robbers who were repelled by security agents.

The incident has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the security agencies in preventing such incidents. “The security agencies need to do more to prevent such incidents,” said a security expert. “They need to be more proactive and intelligence-driven to prevent such incidents.”