“Armed Robbers came with charms, leader has a live tortoise round her neck n tied a snake round her waist” – Eye Witness

Residents of Ipakodo area of Ikorodu in Lagos were held hostage by well organised armed robbers who according witness said they came in commando-style for about two hours as they robbed two major banks in the area.

The scene of the robbery operation was just a stone’s throw to Ipakodo Divisional Police station. The policemen, who engaged the armed robbers, were, however, overwhelmed.

During the operation, three persons were injured, while an unspecified amount of money was carted away from the banks. The robbers also set five vehicles ablaze and damaged an armoured tank as they escaped from the scene. Eye witnesses’ accounts said all members of the gang wore masks and were led by a young lady of about 20 years of age. They were said to have used guns, dynamite and charms to scare people during the operation.

It was also learned that the three persons injured in the attack were a vulcanizer, a motorcyclist and a policeman who were rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital for treatment. The operation The robbers were said to have arrived Ipakodo around 8.30am, announcing their arrival with sporadic gunfire and use of dynamite to scare residents, road users and bank workers while they operated unhindered till about 10:05am.

They came with a dove, mortar and charms, even as the team leader suspended a live tortoise round her neck and tied a snake round her waist. One of the robbers reportedly sat on the mortar and released the dove into the air to signal commencement of operation. Eye witnesses said the robbers, who wielded sophisticated weapons, drove to the scene in three SUVs but later escaped in a boat christened Origin Gardens, which operates Ipakodo enroute Victoria Island.

According to an eye witness, Gabriel Anayo, the robbers’ first port of call was a first generation bank, after which they proceeded to another bank and finally to the jetty where they took time to arrange their loot, removed the number plates of the vehicles they came in before setting the cars on fire.

The jetty owner, Mr Fehinti Adeola Kosoko, said he was optimistic the robbers were hiding somewhere as their boat was the type which could not operate for more than an hour. He said: “We are into leisure and water transportation but our services were disrupted by several gunshots today (yesterday) and the first step we took was to withdraw all boats from the jetty.

“The gunshots lasted for about an hour and forty-five minutes in the banks and we were careful not to obstruct their movement should the bandits come to the jetty. “The Police Station was also attacked by the robbers but hundreds of motorcyclists and policemen ran after them but could not catch up with them. “The robbers were not familiar with the jetty but they communicated in pidgin language and on getting to the jetty to discover there was no boat, they put a call across to one of their colleagues to bring a boat in which they escaped”, he said. Kosoko said he sent a distress call to the Police but there was no response, adding that the Police were also under attack.

 

Segun, said,  

“I was at the ATM section of the Zenith Bank to withdraw money. Suddenly, there were gunshots. Two of the gunmen came in and one of them threw me on the floor. He wanted to shoot, but his colleague told him to leave me.” 

Another eyewitness, Ikechukwu Oyenso, said, 

“I was at the First Bank at exactly 9am to use the ATM. It was my turn when we suddenly heard gunshots. I saw two of the robbers   shooting directly at the police station and the policemen ran away.

“Some gunmen came into the First Bank. A guy stood outside and two entered the bank.

“They used dynamite to destroy the door of the bank. They entered the banking hall and ordered everybody to lie down. These guys looked young. They were dressed in black and they wore caps. They did not use masks. They robbed for over an hour. It was terrible.”

Another eyewitness, Ademola Fashola, said he hid somewhere around the jetty area while the robbers escaped.

He said, 

 “I came to withdraw money from the First Bank ATM, but I changed my mind and headed for Ipakodo, near the jetty. I was there when I heard the gunshots. After they had robbed the banks, the gang leader, a woman, walked while their cars moved towards the Origin Gardens (the jetty area). She dared the police to come out and ordered her gang members not to shoot anybody. She is not up to 20 years. I saw five of them. They dragged the bags that contained the money inside the jetty. I heard one of them calling somebody to pick them. He was shouting ‘Taofeeq, Taofeek, come and pick us now’.” 

Saheed, also an eyewitness, said,  

“Where I hid, I saw them carrying bags of money into the jetty. That short woman held the gun, while another guy took the money inside the jetty. When they were about to escape, they removed the number plates of their three cars, poured fuel on them and shot at one of them, which erupted in flames.

“Along that waterfront are naval officers. Where were they then?”

The Police were also under attack, we then called the Nigerian Navy at Majidun to no avail. The robbers’ boat was a slow moving one and I am very sure they are hiding somewhere around here because the boat cannot move too far,” he added.