Armed Robbers Attack Victim At Waterlines …Cart Away Undisclosed Sum

Residents of Rumukalagbor and Oroworukwo communities in Port Harcourt City Local Government  Area of Rivers State, yesterday, were thrown into a state of panic when a two-man gang of armed robbers stormed the ever busy Water Lines junction along Port Harcourt Aba Road, shooting sporadically in the air to scare motorists, pedestrians and residents away and later made away with unconfirmed amount of money.

The Tide learnt that the armed robbers who rode on a power bike were said to have trailed their victim in a Honda car from the Abali Motor Park where he was said to have withdrawn the huge sum of money from an undisclosed bank around the area.

An eye witness who spoke to The Tide on condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred at about 12.10pm,and lasted just less than 20minutes without any confrontation from either the security operatives keeping surveillance  at some of the business outfits around the Waterlines junction or the police anti robbery squad at a nipping point designed at the ever busy junction.

The eye witness further said that the victim, sat at the back seat, with his driver behind the steering wheel was carrying the money in his car boot when the robbers approached the car under a heavy traffic jam at the Waterlines junction, and  pointed a gun at him before ordering him to surrender the money to them.

According to him, the victim quietly handed over the money to them without hesitation, adding that an attempt by an army officer posted to secure one of the MTN “experience centres” along the waterlines junction  who tried to shoot into the air to deter the robbers was over powered by the superior fire power of the armed robbers who later fled with their loot after shooting sporadically into the air.

The Tide further learnt that the incident caused heavy traffic jam as traffic police at the traffic control post and other road users, including passers-by abandoned their vehicles for their safety, and watched from a distance while the operation lasted.

Our correspondent , who visited the scene of the incident a few minutes to 1.pm reports that sympathizers  including hawkers were seen discussing in group in hush tone, while heavy armed security men were seen deployed around the scene of the crime.

Reacting to the robbery incident on phone, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Angela Agabe, however said the armed robbers did not succeed because  they were confronted by a police man on duty around the area, which according to her, made the robbers to abandon their victim and ran way.

But very reliable sources told The Tide that the robbers actually made away with their loot with their victim in the white and black colour Honda looking helpless while his driver struggled to pull out of the traffic jam to escape further molestation.

Senator Magnus Abe(standing), addressing journalists during a presentation of microcassette recorders to 50 journalists in Port Harcourt last Monday.With him are member, House of Representatives, Hon Maurice Pronen (left), Chairman, NUJ, Rivers State chapter, Mr Opaka Dokubo (2nd right) and member, House of Representatives, Hon Bright Gogo