News
Armed Robbers Raid Bank, Kill Two In Ekiti
Ekiti State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed that two persons were killed in an armed robbery operation at an old generation bank in Igede-Ekiti, Ifelodun/Irepodun Local Government Area late Wednesday.
The operation which was reportedly carried out by a seven-man gang occurred at about 5:50 pm and claimed the lives of a guard and a staff of the bank.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said his men have launched a manhunt for the fleeing robbers, adding that the command had also deployed more of its men in banks to curtail such incidents in the future.
Ikechukwu, however, did not confirm if the robbers made away with any cash from the bank. The gunfight, according to him, the exchange of gunfire between the policemen and the bandits botched the operation, as the robbers had to flee the scene, knowing that the police were closing in on them.
He revealed that the guard, who was shot in the head, died within the premises of the bank, while the injured staff died at the hospital.
The PPRO added that the robbers, who had wanted to escape through Ilawe-Igede Road, later drove into the bush and escaped into the thick forest between the two towns.
He said the expansive forest has been cordoned off by the police and that his men are combing the bush in search of the robbers.
“The robbers would have done more havoc than they did, but for the prompt action taken by our men.
There was an exchange of gunshots between the bandits and our personnel. We tried our best to manage the situation. “It is true that two persons were killed during the bank operation The operation was regrettable and the death of the two persons painful.
“As we speak, our Criminal Investigation Bureau, CIB, and State Intelligence Investigation Department, SIID, have drafted their men for intelligence gathering while mobile policemen are on the road and other critical areas”.
Ikechukwu urged members of the public to go about their normal businesses, assuring that the police are on top of the situation.
The robbers were said to have attacked the bank in a Gestapo-like manner by blowing up the Automated Tellers Machine, ATM, with bullets, which caused panic within the vicinity of the bank.
An eyewitness revealed that they actually gained entry into the banking hall before they were resisted by the Police, saying no one could ascertain whether money was carted away or not.
He said: “The bank was close to the market and owing to its proximity; people were really affected by the gunshots. They had to scamper for safety “We know a bank staff and a guard were killed, but we can’t say much about their identities.”
Meanwhile, a robbery gang, whose members were suspected to be cultists, engaged a team of policemen in a gun battle in Owode area of Lagos last Wednesday night at the end of which one of them was gunned down.
It was gathered that others managed to escape with bullet wounds, abandoning their operational vehicle, a Toyota Camry saloon car without plate number.
There were different accounts of how the gang met its waterloo. A version of the account alleged that members of the gang had on same day, at Demuren Street, Alapere, stabbed one Sylvester Chikwendu, 32, suspected to be a rival cult member to death.
They were fleeing the scene when the police team intercepted them. Another version said the suspects allegedly dispossessed some residents of their valuables before they stormed Demuren Street, where they unleashed mayhem on their target.
Spokesman for Lagos State Police Command, Chike Oti, who confirmed the incident, said one pump action rifle, one locally-made revolver pistol, one locally-made single-barrelled pistol, five live 9mm calibre ammunition, three live cartridges, two expended cartridges, two cutlasses, charms and assorted clothing were recovered in the suspects’ operational vehicle at the end of the gun battle.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.
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