Read: Ikorodu Bank Robbers insist they were not led by a Lady

ENCOMIUM Weekly had a chat with some witnesses who gave similar accounts..

GEORGE ODIGIE

“The incident of Wednesday, June 24, 2015, was terrible.  That would be my first time of witnessing that kind of robbery.  I have only heard of Shina Rambo, I never saw him and his gang in operation.  Those guys that came to Ebute Ipakodo are well trained armed robbers.  The way they handled the gun was fearful.

Even I don’t think the police can shoot the way they did that day.  I believe they’re the same set that terrorized Ijede about three weeks ago.  Their mission was to rob and not to kill anybody because if they were there to kill, I don’t think I will still be alive today.  I also came to Zenith Bank to withdraw with my ATM card.  Suddenly I heard a loud voice followed by a gun shot.  When I looked up, I ran out of the place alongside others who were also scampering for safety.  They commanded all of us out of the premises.  Before we knew it, they had blown the outer part of First Bank, then Zenith Bank too with explosives.  They gained entry into the two banks and came out after about one hour of uninterrupted operation.  The money they stole was too much.  Everybody was just watching helplessly.  They reduced the police to a piece of cake that day.  They were fully armed and most of them were not that tall.  I guess they must be in their 20s.  They’re likely to be cultists.  No one could identify anyone of them.

“The operation lasted about two hours before they drove out of the place.  We later heard another round of shooting few metres away, after which flame covered the whole atmosphere.  Some of us still rushed there, we got to know that they had burnt the three jeeps they brought for the operation and escaped through the waterways.”

RAFIU OSALABI

“The Wednesday, June 24, 2015 robbery was shocking.  We’re all scared.  I thought the end had come.  The robbers were many.  No one knows exactly their number.  I only know there was a lady among them.  She wore a lot of things round her neck.  I believe they’re charms.  It’s like a dream.  They were devilish in their conduct.  The only thing was that they didn’t shoot anybody but if the policemen had come out that day, only God knows how many of the policemen would have been killed because the type of guns these guys paraded were first class.  They started shooting soon as they stormed the road here.  They came around 8.30 a.m and operated for about two hours non-stop.  We ran into this house, watching them through the window.  They were shooting and screaming.  They even dared the police.  They stood in front of the police station for more than an hour, no police came out.

“After they had blown the entrances of the two banks, they came out with huge cash loaded in Ghana Must Go bags, big ones.  You can imagine how much they carted away.  I am sure it can’t be less than N100 m.  We only thank God that nobody died in the incident.  The only person hit by a stray bullet was an okada rider who brought a lady to the bank.  And he was rushed to the hospital alongside three others who were injured while running for safety.  We were hearing their leader shouting, ‘Don’t kill anybody, we’re to rob not to kill but if they fail to co-operate, we will destroy them and their banks.’

“They left around 10.30 a.m and drove to the jetty where they set ablaze their three jeeps and escaped in a speed boat.”

CHRISTIANA SEGUN

“I am the owner of this shop.  I always come out around 8 a.m every day except Sundays because of church.  I came out that same time on Wednesday, June 24, 2015.  And as usual, I was arranging my goods.  Suddenly, I heard a sound, Gba o!  I thought it was from the exhaust pipe of one of the vehicles passing, but in another couple of seconds, it became sporadic.  It was then I knew the reality of what was really happening. I didn’t know when I abandoned the shop unlocked and ran away. Everybody ran for safety.  I hid in an uncompleted building up there with many others.  That’s where we were, watching how the robbers were terrorizing the whole place.

“It was like a make-believe thing.  See young boys shooting like soldiers, few of them wore military camouflage, shouting on top of their voices.  They operated from 8.40 a.m to 10.30 a.m, almost two hours uninterrupted.  They were shouting as they were shooting, commanding the bank staffers to cooperate with them unless they would find themselves in the pool of their blood.

“They blew the entrances of the two banks with explosives.  They robbed them simultaneously.  About three of them stood in the front of the police station directly opposite the banks, challenging the police to come out if they’re ready to die, ‘Come out if you can face us.  You will die like chicken.  If you know you have signed your will, dare us, we will leave you dead before leaving this place.  But if you love yourselves and your families, just remain indoor.  We’re here for business, not to kill anybody but if you dare us, we will kill you like chicken.’

“A girl was among them, wearing charms round her neck and waist.  She was so bold and confident of herself.  She held a SMG, commanding the rest of the guys.  Some of them wore black dresses.  They threatened to destroy the two banks and their workers if they refuse to cooperate with them.

“That morning, a lot of customers were already inside the banks, many were also outside making use of their ATM cards.  They all took to their heels when the robbers started their terror attack.  Nobody could wait.  After like 30 minutes, they had succeeded in robbing First Bank and I learnt about N20 m was carted away instantly.  In the two banks, they used about five Ghana Must Go bags to load the money and put them inside their jeeps.  I learnt they stole about N60 m from Zenith Bank while some said it’s more than that.”

“We heard them screaming when they saw the money.  Even about three of them were dancing, celebrating victory on the road right in front of the police station.”

“The robbery was massive.  I have never witnessed such a thing.  All the motorists, Marwa and okada riders were turning back.  Some, out of fear, parked and abandoned their vehicles.  They came back in the afternoon to pick them.  The guns the armed robbers operated with were more sophisticated.  That’s why I don’t blame the police that hid because I don’t think they could stand their guns.  Let’s call a spade a spade, our government should equip the police with more sophisticated weapons.  Most of the robbers terrorizing banks are not ordinary people.  And police too have their wives and children at home. We only thank God the incident didn’t claim any life.  Only few people were injured and they were rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment.”