22nd July, 2011
A gang of armed robbers numbering about 15 on Friday brought commercial activities in Nsukka to a standstill for about one hour as residents ran “helter-skelter” so as to save their lives.
A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Friday that the robbers killed two policemen escorting the bullion van in Fen Park junction after exchanging gun shots with policemen following the van around 10.20 a.m.
“The robbers blocked the police escort van and bullion van with their Mercedes Benz car and a bus. The next thing I heard is when they started shooting sporadically.
“When we discovered they were armed robbers, everybody started running,” he said
It was after they killed the policemen that they brought out a gas cylinder from the bus and used it to break the BEMIL bullion van and carted away money in it and zoomed off.
“The sound of the explosion from the gas is like dynamite,’’ he said.
A resident, who identified himself as Richard Alozie described the incident as unfortunate, a situation where hoodlums would hold entire residents hostage.
‘There is need to equip police adequately, so as to be able to face security challenges in the country.’’
When contacted, the Enugu Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the killing of two policemen and attacking of police bullion van by armed robbers in Nsukka.
“Two policemen have been killed and a bullion van attacked this morning in Nsukka.
Police are tracing the robbers so as to arrest them, and recover the money stolen,” he said
As at the time of filing this report, banks as well as some shops in Nsukka have remained closed for business as result of the incident.
NAN reports that police stations in Nsukka have been cordoned off as roads leading to the stations have been closed and policemen stationed in strategic points.