About 12 people including two policemen were killed while scores sustained injuries in the early hours of yesterday when some armed men attacked a branch of First Bank at Ketu in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos State.
However, Governor Babatunde Fashola, while reacting to the development, expressed worry over the incessant robbery attacks in the state and expressed determination of his administration to battle the menace head-on. He said positive steps had been taken towards making the state safe for everyone.
He assured that the families of slain policemen would be adequately compensated.
The bodies of the victims have been deposited at mortuaries at Ikeja and Lagos Island General Hospitals while those that sustained injuries are being treated.
One of the dead policemen whose body was conveyed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja, in a police van with Lagos registration PF 5423, was simply identified as Sgt Elisha Maneh of Mopol 20 Unit.
Also one of the injured victims brought to LASUTH was an officer of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) who sustained bullet wounds on some parts of his buttocks.
According to an eyewitness, a policeman, the incident happened at about 12pm at First Bank branch in Ketu, throwing the entire area into chaos with everybody running helter skelter. One member of the armed robbery gang was also shot to death and reportedly carted away by his colleagues as they fled in their getaway vehicle.
According to eyewitnesses, the robbers made away with unspecified sum of money starched in three Ghana Must Go bags.
The armed robbers were said to have robbed the banks in a commando style as they went wild, firing bullets indiscriminately.
In the process, three policemen on guard at the bank and the adjoining bank were gunned down. They died instantly.
The governor said with the on-going battle with armed robbers in the state, government would not relent on its efforts to fight the menace to a stand still and pledged his continued collaboration with relevant agencies, especially the Nigerian Police to contain the excesses of youths who are not ready to be engaged in legitimate job.
Aug182007