In a commando-style, just like in hollywood blockbusters,
dare devil armed robbers yesterday, held residents of Ipakodo area of Ikorodu
in Lagos hostage for about 2 hours as they robbed two major banks in the area.
The scene of the robbery operation was reportedly just a stone throw to Ipakodo
Divisional Police station.
3 persons were injured during the operation, while an
unspecified amount of money was carted away from the banks. The robbers also
set 5 vehicles ablaze and damaged an armoured tank as they escaped from the
scene.
The robbers who were on masks and led by a young lady who
reportedly tied a snake round her waist, arrived Ipakodo around 8.30am,
announcing their arrival with sporadic gunfire and use of dynamite to scare
residents, road users and bank workers while they operated unhindered till
about 10:05am. They came with a dove, mortar and charms, even as the team
leader suspended a live tortoise round her neck and tied a snake round her
waist.
One of the robbers reportedly sat on the mortar and released
the dove into the air to signal commencement of operation. Eye witnesses said
the robbers, who wielded sophisticated weapons, drove to the scene in three
SUVs but later escaped in a boat christened 'Origin Gardens', which operates
Ipakodo enroute Victoria Island.
According to an eye witness, the robbers’ first port of call
was a first generation bank, after which they proceeded to another bank and
finally to the jetty where they took time to arrange their loot, removed the
number plates of the vehicles they came in before setting the cars on fire.
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