by S’ola Filani

Four cashiers, three security guards and six policemen have been held in connection with a robbery that occurred Wednesday, at the Okokomaiko, Alaba, Lagos branch of the Fidelity Bank.

The suspects were arrested following investigations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) led by Abba Kyarri, a Superintendent of Police (SP).

The robbers who  made away with N24 million from two bullion vans, were armed with AK47 rifles and had magazines wrapped round their bodies.

The bullion vans were hijacked while being escorted by seven policemen from the heavily armed Bar Beach Police Station on Victoria Island, with two spy policemen and others.

The robbers overwhelmed the police escorts, killing two of the spy policemen.

The robbers broke open the first bullion, carting away all the money in it.

They riddled the other van with bullets in their attempt to force it open.

When they did not succeed, they disappeared with the loot from the first van.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide confirmed the incident, saying: “The incident did not occur at Fidelity Bank, but at the bank’s box office, where the bank officials used to box money before moving it out. Only one spy policeman was killed. The robbers would have been caught, but because it was in the market, our policemen did not want to shoot. The bullet could hit innocent people. The car attacked was the bank’s bullion van and it came to pick boxed money. The money taken away was about N24 million.”