Two suspects shot dead while robbing residents

Olaleye Aluko 

Two suspected bank robbers have been shot dead by policemen in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the robbers were about dispossessing some female residents, who had stepped out of a bank at the Apple Junction, when the police from the FESTAC division were alerted.

Our correspondent learnt that the four-man gang exchanged gunfire with police operatives during the incident, which occurred around 12pm penultimate Friday.

While two of the robbers escaped, the other two were shot dead and their corpses deposited in a morgue.

A policeman on the team told our correspondent that the robbers stationed one of them at the bank’s Automated Teller Machine as an informant.

He said, “They were four and they came on three motorcycles. They targeted people leaving the bank premises, particularly women carrying bags. If they saw a woman with a bag, an informant around the ATM would alert the others and they would trace their victim to a secluded location and rob her. They had automatic pistols and they could fire at will.

“These two were killed during an exchange of fire on Friday. Their motorcycles were unregistered. The metal under their motorcycles had been straightened to enhance their speed and enable them to shoot guns without holding the motorcycles.”

Our correspondent learnt that the robbers had yet to be identified.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed the killings, adding that some other motorcycle robbers were arrested by operatives in the Lekki, Ajah and Egbeda areas.

He said, “The criminals, who specialised in using motorcycles to rob people of their property, have been arrested. They were picked up at different places including Egbeda, Lekki, Ajah and the FESTAC Town areas.

“In one of the operations around the FESTAC Town area, two of the armed robbers, who engaged the police operatives in a gun duel, lost their lives. A Beretta pistol, two locally-made guns, four live cartridges, a catchment of charms and a Honda motorcycle, were recovered from the deceased.”