Two persons, a staff of a new generation bank and a suspected armed robber were yesterday killed, when armed robbers attacked a bullion van conveying in Abia State.
Parading the body of the neutralised hoodlum, Abia state police public relations officer , SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the incident occurred at about I.13 pm , at Ntigha junction in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the State, along the Port Harcourt/Enugu Expressway.
He disclosed that six Mobile Policemen attached to 28 PMF Umuahia and Counter Terrorism Unit base 4, Aba,while escorting a Bullion Van conveying cash from a new generation bank in Aba to Umuahia, suddenly ran into an ambush laid by the robbers.
The robbers he said, opened fire on sighting the bullion van which forced its driver to swerve into the bush where the hoodlums rushed and shot dead the bank cash officer, while the driver escaped.
The PPRO said the escort team engaged the armed robbers in a shootout.
During the ensuing gun duel, one of the hoodlums was neutralized and his AK 47 rifle with ammunition laden in three magazines strapped together was recovered.
However, three of the escort men sustained gun shot injuries and were subsequently rushed to the hospital.
“Efforts made to stop the bullion van and escort vehicle yielded no dividend as the driver veered into the bush.
“The cash officer accompanying the bullion van was shot dead on the spot, three policemen on escort sustained bullet injuries while one of the robbers was neutralized and his AK 47, rifle with 90 rounds of ammunition was recovered.
“The injured policemen were rushed to the hospital while the deceased, are deposited in the morgue for preservation. Investigation has commenced.”
The robbers were said to have carted away an undisclosed sum of money.
The PPRO called on Abians to always volunteer information to the police for quick intervention.
He also appealed to hospitals and traditional bonesetters in the state to report anyone in their facilities with bullet wounds for investigation as some of the robbers fled with bullet injuries.
