By James Moses (9News Nigeria -Jos)
A young man, whose name is yet to be disclosed on Monday morning, entered the Dadin Kowa branch of a Bank, in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), demanding a N100 million naira from the bank or threatening to detonate it.
A staff of the bank who pleaded for anonimity confirmed the incident to 9News Nigeria correspondent on Tuesday, stressing that the incident occurred when staff of the bank were attending to customers.
He said the suspect approached a frontline teller, pretending to withdraw money, but instead dropped a note to the attendant, in which he claimed that an IED was strapped to his body and would detonate, if his demand was not met.
According to him, “understanding the demand of the suspect, the bank teller quickly communicated the situation to their supervisor who promptly alerted bank securitymen to open the emergency exit for people to run.
Thereafter, customers were alerted to leave the banking hall for their safety.
Realizing that customers have stated running out of the bank, he also joined them but was arrested by the bank securitymen who later call in Police Anti-bomb squad.
On their arrival, they took him to Rantya police station for further interrogation”, he narrated.
The bank staff however believe that the suspect was able to enter the bank because the IED attached to his body was a fake one, allowing him to bypass the Mantrap door undetected.
The spokesman of the State Police Command, DSP Alfred Alabo is yet to respond on the incident as at the time of filing this report.
9News Nigeria correspondent reports that the situation created pandemonium and panic around the area, as many were also seen running for their safety.
…More details soon
-9News Nigeria.