– 1 Robbery Gang Member in Police Custody
THE three persons apprehended by the police in Akure after the robbery of a local branch of Diamond Bank two weeks ago had nothing to do with the robbery.
This disclosure was made by the state police commissioner, Mr. Sani Magaji, on Tuesday, who said that the Ondo State Police Command regrets the error.
Four persons were killed in the attack that paralyzed business activities around the bank on Akure’s Oyemekun Road. A member of the gang, according to Police Commissioner Magaji, is receiving treatment in the custody of the police at an undisclosed hospital.
“We carried out an extensive investigation after the three persons were arrested. We ascertained their identities and we discovered that they were victims of circumstances. They were lucky to have escaped any form of mob action,” said Mr. Magaji.
“Investigations showed that they are contractors on their way to Abuja from Lagos. We found on them a letter that indicated they were actually on a business trip.”
Magaji said, notwithstanding the fact that there was enough proof that the businessmen were arrested in error, they were still kept for two weeks to enable the police to carry out a proper investigation.
“As we speak now, the three people have been released. They are no longer in our custody,” he said.
The CP added that the state government had given five armoured personnel carriers to the command to aid effective crime prevention and control.
He said, “Apart from the five APCs donated by the state government, the command has been allocated two others by the Force headquarters. The era of robbery is gone in Ondo. Even before the use of APC, we have been helping other commands to arrest robbers.”
Residents of Akure, abandoned all forms of activities and ran for dear lives on Tuesday when armed robbers invaded Diamond Bank and killed five persons.
The timely response of a combined team of soldiers and policemen stopped the hoodlums from accessing the bank’s vaults, but they allegedly carted away customers’ money at the banking hall.
Social and economic activities were paralysed for about one hour while the operation lasted; motorists hurriedly abandoned their vehicles on the road, while others closed their shops and offices.
The incident was the fourth in the series recorded in the state this year alone.