Curtailing Robbery Attacks During Festive Period

Yesterday’s gruesome killing of a bank staff in Lagos has left many people in shock as well as raise fears that robbery attacks in the country are likely to increase during this festive period, a traditional time for an upsurge.


Mr. Kamorudeen Akani, a driver with Skye Bank plc., was shot dead at Olopomeji area in Iyana Oworonsoki by yet unknown gunmen at about 6.30 a.m while on his way to work.

Some months back, 14 passengers in a luxury bus were murdered and others badly wounded in a dastardly robbery operation on Okene-Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The passengers of the 60-seater bus, who had already been dispossessed of their cash and other belongings, were ordered to lie face-down on the highway, where they were crushed to death by oncoming vehicles.

On 2 August, two persons were feared dead while over seven others sustained serious injuries, when armed bandits attacked a branch of a new generation bank in Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. About the same time in Ilesa, Osun State, three persons were shot dead during another bank robbery.

In recent weeks, similar incidents have taken place in many other parts of the country, with the robbers escaping  after their operation.

The attacks have raised fears among the citizens that they are defenceless against the ruthless criminals. The impunity with which the bandits kill and unleash terror on their victims these days is heart-wrenching.

Many Nigerians are convinced that the police cannot offer the protection they need, given that policemen have the exasperating habit of arriving at crime scenes long after robbers would have escaped.

During this Yuletide period, robbery attacks are likely to increase as has been the case in years past. The police must be ready to tackle them.

The deployment of policemen in dark spots is one way to prevent the activities of these hoodlums. Proactive policing and the use of modern intelligence-gathering techniques must also be adopted. More effective collaboration among security agencies for intelligence sharing should be actively encouraged. The Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, must understand that Nigerians are tired of incessant robbery attacks and seek urgent  government intervention.