The Police, comprising IGP Intelligence Squad in conjunction with men of the Rivers State Police Command have smashed a dare-devil robbery operation to rob a bank of hundreds of millions of naira in Port Harcourt.
The robbers including a dismissed ex-Police Sergeant, heavily armed with electronic wielding machines, iron cutters, cache of arms, were arrested with one bank official suspected to have provided the gang with information on how to break into the bank’s vault.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Don Awunah, “A senior bank staff and security personnel attached to the Bank involved in the foiled armed robbery attack on Access Bank Branch in Port Harcourt, Rivers state was also arrested.
He gave the names of the suspects as Samuel Ndudiri, 28 years (staff of the Bank), a principal suspect and the master mind of the foiled armed robbery attack; Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma, a dismissed Policeman.
Others are Samuel Nwala, 28 years, Lucky Ukwuoma, and Kaale Taagabah 27 years.
Items recovered from the gang include Two (2) AK 47 Rifles and magazines fully loaded with Ammunition, a welding machine, Two (2) Gas cylinders and iron cutters, a big Chisel, Cutting saw, Hammer and Acetylene gas power.
DCP Awunah said “On the 22nd December, 2016, the five (5) suspects mentioned above and other still at large stormed a Branch of Access Bank PLC in Port Harcourt, relying on information and active involvement of one of the staff of the Bank.
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“The armed robbers successfully broke down the well-fortified security doors and barriers and took over the banking hall.
“They were almost pulling down the vault of the Bank and other strong rooms in the bank with use of gas cylinder welding machine and iron cutters before the joint Police Teams of IGP’S Intelligence Response Team and Policemen from Rivers state Police Command swiftly moved in and dislodged them.
“Consequently, the armed robbery attack on the Bank was foiled and the Police made a prompt arrest of three (3) of the suspects at the scene; namely Samuel Nwala 28 years, Lucky Ukwuoma 26 years, and Kaale Taagabah 27 years.
“In the course of thorough investigation into the foiled armed robbery attack on the Bank, the principal suspect who is a staff of the Bank and the master mind of the armed robber attack was subsequently arrested based on the confessional statements volunteered by the last three suspects arrested at the scene.
“The arrest of the principal suspect led to the arrest of Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma who participated actively in the armed robbery attack on the Bank and recovery of the two (2) AK 47 riffles and recovery of the ammunition from him.
“All the suspects have volunteered confessional and useful statements to the Police about the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.
Awunah added that “Concerted efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and bring them to justice. The case will be charged to court on completion.”
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