It was indeed a bloody day in Lagos on Sunday September 9, 2012, as rampaging robbers shot dead three policemen, a bureau de change operator, an Okada rider and a bus driver.
As at Monday morning, News Nigeria gathered that there were reports of more deaths. Also, more than 10 people were believed to have been injured. They include an official of the Lagos State Traffic management Authority (LASTMA).
The bureau de change was attacked in Agege. A large amount of foreign currencies was reportedly carted away by the robbers, who killed one of the operators.
The robbers, said to be eight, including two women, drove round in two SUVs - a Prado and an Armada. They shot the policemen who were inside their patrol vehicle near the Guinness Brewery on Oba Akran, Ikeja. Two of the five policemen inside the patrol van died instantly. The third was taken to the hospital, where he died.
A stray bullet hit a six-year-old girl in the eye. Her grandmother was hit on the forehead. They were watching television in their home at 15, Alfa-Nla Street in Agege on the outskirts of the city.
A stray bullet also hit a parked Volvo ambulance with registration number HL 355 AAA belonging to Motolani Medical Centre. It shattered the rear windscreen.
The robbers were said to have been spotted at about 10.35a.m at Ifako-Gbagada from where they reportedly drove through Oshodi to Mile 2 and Agege. They shot dead an Okada rider in Ijesha on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
At Agege, the police reportedly engaged the robbers who shot sporadically and headed toward Ogba. On their way, a driver of a commercial bus, (Lagos XQ336 EKY) was shot dead. His vehicle crashed into a ditch at the Railway crossing.
An eyewitness, a commercial motorcycle operator who simply identified himself as Kabiru, said he was following the SUV in which the robbers were operating, unknown to him that they were armed robbers, until he saw how they suddenly double crossed a patrol team and started shooting at the policemen.
He said: “It was like a war scene. I saw death with my eyes. They shot dead two policemen. I took cover near the war zone.”
Lagos Police Commission, Umar Manko, confirmed the incident. “The police got wind of their operation and were chasing them and, in the process, two officers were killed,” Manko said.
The CP noted that the hoodlums killed the policemen because the patrol vehicle was met in an Isolated place. He said he suspected that the bandits had snatched a police communication equipment, with which they monitored police directives.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has assured residents of adequate security. It described the situation as “unfortunate” but urged residents to be vigilant and go about their duties.
The bureau de change was attacked in Agege. A large amount of foreign currencies was reportedly carted away by the robbers, who killed one of the operators.
The robbers, said to be eight, including two women, drove round in two SUVs - a Prado and an Armada. They shot the policemen who were inside their patrol vehicle near the Guinness Brewery on Oba Akran, Ikeja. Two of the five policemen inside the patrol van died instantly. The third was taken to the hospital, where he died.
A stray bullet hit a six-year-old girl in the eye. Her grandmother was hit on the forehead. They were watching television in their home at 15, Alfa-Nla Street in Agege on the outskirts of the city.
A stray bullet also hit a parked Volvo ambulance with registration number HL 355 AAA belonging to Motolani Medical Centre. It shattered the rear windscreen.
The robbers were said to have been spotted at about 10.35a.m at Ifako-Gbagada from where they reportedly drove through Oshodi to Mile 2 and Agege. They shot dead an Okada rider in Ijesha on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
At Agege, the police reportedly engaged the robbers who shot sporadically and headed toward Ogba. On their way, a driver of a commercial bus, (Lagos XQ336 EKY) was shot dead. His vehicle crashed into a ditch at the Railway crossing.
An eyewitness, a commercial motorcycle operator who simply identified himself as Kabiru, said he was following the SUV in which the robbers were operating, unknown to him that they were armed robbers, until he saw how they suddenly double crossed a patrol team and started shooting at the policemen.
He said: “It was like a war scene. I saw death with my eyes. They shot dead two policemen. I took cover near the war zone.”
Lagos Police Commission, Umar Manko, confirmed the incident. “The police got wind of their operation and were chasing them and, in the process, two officers were killed,” Manko said.
The CP noted that the hoodlums killed the policemen because the patrol vehicle was met in an Isolated place. He said he suspected that the bandits had snatched a police communication equipment, with which they monitored police directives.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has assured residents of adequate security. It described the situation as “unfortunate” but urged residents to be vigilant and go about their duties.
