Like a scene in an action thriller, gunmen launched attacks
on a police station and a branch of the
United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Amasoma,
Southern Ijaw Local Government Area,
Bayelsa State.
Amasoma is the community of the late
former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha and a host to the state-
owned university, the Niger Delta University
(NDU).
It was gathered that the gang of armed robbers
stormed the community through the
waterways at about 1am on Saturday 12 March
.
Shortly after arriving on a speedboat, they
were said to have moved straight to the
police station located in the area and
engaged the policemen in a gun duel.
The bandits who reportedly overpowered the
policemen, carted away arms and
ammunition from the police station.
The rampaging armed robbers later visited
the UBA branch with rage shooting
sporadically and creating panic among
residents.
It was gathered that the armed robbers threw
dynamites and other explosives at the bank
to create access to the banking hall.
After blowing off the fence of the bank, the
hoodlums were said to have tried in vain to
enter the bank.
A source who spoke in confidence said: "A
group of armed robbers with heavy guns
stormed amassoma community. The armed robbers came in through the waterways but
the police were unable to stop them.
"The armed robbers found their way to the
United Bank of Africa (UBA) where they
shoot sporadically chasing away everyone
including the security guards.
"They threw bombs and dynamites at the
walls of the bank, bringing down its fences.
They gained access to the bank premises but
were unable to get in after much attempt".
It was gathered that the gang later
attacked the Automated Teller Machine
(ATM), dismantled and carted it away.
Though no life had been confirmed lost in
the incident, some persons were said to have
been injured.
"The source added: "This is not the first time
such robbery is taking place in a bank at
amassoma. It could be recalled sometime
ago that suspected armed robbers raided
the bank carting away millions of naira and
leaving behind dead victims."
A senior bank official who spoke in
confidence confirmed the attack and said the
ATM was carted away by the hoodlums.
He, however, said the UBA management had
sent a team to take inventory of the
damaged property and determine the amount
of money lost to the incident.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations
Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said he
was waiting for the details of the attack.

Hmmm.

Pls correct the word militant to armed robbers.