by ‘Jola Sotubo

Ayobo in the Ipaja area of Lagos was yesterday the scene of a shootout between heavily armed robbers and police officers on security duty.

The robbers, who arrived the area to steal from a bank, were engaged by the security operatives in a fierce battle that resulted in the deaths of 4 robbers and 2 police men.

The robbery gang suffered a bigger hit as four of its members were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad while an unidentified number were injured.

The Sun reports:

Two policemen were also injured while some members of the gang were said to have escaped with bullet wounds. The shoot-out lasted for over 30 minutes, causing serious panic among the residents.

The incident occurred at about 2am when the robbers broke into the bank and forced their way into the premises, vandalizing the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). It was gathered that a distress call was made to the Ayobo Police station and a patrol team raced to the scene

On sighting the patrol team, the robbers opened fire. A fierce gun duel ensued after which the two policemen and four suspects were killed.

Another round of gun duel occurred between the robbers and operatives, who arrested four members of the gang , while the suspected leader of the gang and some others escaped with bullet wounds

A resident of Ayobo town, John Okarandu, described the incident as “ very terrible and scary “ following the magnitude of the heavy shooting that characterized the robbery. He said “there was serious sophistication in the shooting between the policemen and the robbers. There was a serious vibration from the shoot-out “

The state police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said it was a “foiled robbery attempt” on the Ayobo branch of the new generation bank.

She said, “at about 02 00 hours, Ayobo Division received a distress call that armed robbers were trying to break into the ATMs of the bank. A patrol team led by ASP Longinus Anozie, responded swiftly and stormed the scene of the robbery

“The robbers on sighting the patrol vehicle, opened fire , while the police responded and engaged them squarely in a firece gun duel.

“Sadly, two of our officers lost their lives , while the attempted robbery was foiled, four of the robbers were killed and four arrested’’, she said.

She also appealed to members of the public to report anyone seen with bullet wounds to the nearest police station.