By Austin Ogwuda
ASABA—IT was a bloody day at Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday as a gang of armed robbers raided a first generation bank in the town.
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Ironically, the bank is a stone’s throw from the Ogwashi-Uku divisional police station. The robbers succeeded in bolting away with over N28 million, an inside source revealed.
Before yesterday’s bank robbery, the town had been under siege as travellers using the Asaba-Ogwashi-Kwale Road were practically robbed on a daily basis.
Our reporter gathered that the bandits stormed the bank about an hour after the bank opened for business.
According to an eyewitness, “they were armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons. They started shooting and many of the bank customers were wounded as they ran for safety and I think it was a stray bullet that killed a woman nearby.”
State Police Command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed that the woman was killed by a stray bullet but disagreed that money was stolen, saying “the operation was not successful. They did not get to the strong room.”
It is rather sad that a robbery occurred in front of Police divisional headquarters in Ogwashi Uku with response from the Police. Again the mobile Police has its barracks at Ogwashi Uku a few yards from the robbery incidence and yet the Police could not respond. This is a clear indication of the inability of our police force from providing security to our nation.
The Police are only interested in taking bribes as the force has been rated the worst corrupted sector in Nigeria. But it could be that they are illequipped to match the criminals. The government should secure its citizens and pay the police well to protect Nigerians.
Uganwa Charles