Robbers kill mother, daughter in Festac Town bank attack

By OKOSUN OKHUELEIGBE

Lagos is under siege as robbers and thugs are having a field day killing people and attacking banks without resistance.

The robbers on Tuesday laid siege on Diamond and Access banks killing mother and daughter just as they were in their living room. They were felled by stray bullet purportedly fire by the robbers.

The robbers numbering about 40 and dressed in full military uniforms and suit laid siege close to the house of the victims’ house in Festac Town, Lagos. They engaged in sporadic shooting using a General Purpose Machine Gun and other assault rifles which was said to have been mounted at 23 Road Junction.

They attacked the two commercials banks in a commando-like fashion siphoning millions of naira. As a result of the indiscriminate shooting, their stray bullets hit the woman and daughter at Block 8, 23 Road House, killing both mother and child.

A witness said the late Mrs Beluchukwu-Ndirika, a nurse at the Igando General Hospital in Lagos and the daughter, a 14-month old Nmesoma were inside their two-bedroom apartment on the top floor of their three-storey building when the bullets pierced through the door and hit them killing the daughter instantly.

According to the Area “E” Commander, Mr Frank Mba who confirmed the death of the victims, later visited the family house to see have on the spot assessment of the unfortunate tragedy.

As security in Lagos is said to be slumping, this armed robbery attack came a day after the Managing Director of Lekki Free Trade Zone, Mr Disu was killed at Ibeju by residents over land matter.

A friend to the woman who spoke to newsmen identified as Uche said “the situation was difficult to explain. It was like war front. Almost an hour after the friend was shot; nobody could rescue her because the robbers were still on ground shooting. She was soaked in her blood for about an hour. I came on a visit and was about to leave this morning when the incident occurred.

“Just as I was about to leave the house with my bag already outside, we heard sound of gunshot and when we looked, we saw people in army uniform and some on suit shooting. We hid ourselves at the back of the door. Suddenly, the unexpected happened when my friend shouted for help.

“I tried to salvage the bleeding, I realised that the bullet went through her chest. I shouted for help, no one could come because the robbers were still everywhere. The neighbour eventually called the police but the police didn’t come. The police disappointed me as watched my friend and daughter die of bullet wounds.

It was also learnt that stray bullet also entered into two other flats within the neighbourhood. “They mounted a machine gun in that junction and shot indiscriminately. I am honestly disappointed in the police because despite the calls made to them, no one came to the rescue.

“I called Area “E” and the Police Public Relations Officer who told me that they were coming but never came. They only showed up after the robbers had left,” she added.

The two banks attacked: Diamond and Access banks had their rotor were blown off with dynamite.

A worker at the Diamond bank who was injured said the robbers asked a riot policeman attached to the bank to join in packing the money into a car. He said, “The robbers were many and could not be less than 40. They came through the waters.

“Immediately, they started shooting and scared away people and used dynamite to blow off the rotor door. They were quite precise in their deployment as if they had rehearsed it before coming.”

A resident, identified as Mr Benson described the robbers as “well-trained breed.” They were not in a hurry, well-composed and used their weapons so well. From where I was watching them, one of the robbers was busy walking along the road making necessary calls as the operation unfolded,” he explained.

They zoomed off with their loot through the Lagoon. The residents especially the youths went to the street protesting insistent robbery attacks without the police doing anything to thwarts such attacks especially as most of such incidents happened a stone thrown to the police station.