Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Two persons including a Cash Officer, and a robber were killed in Abia when a robbery gang attacked a bullion van conveying money from Aba to Umuahia.
About three police personnel were also wounded during a gun duel with the gang in the incident which occurred around Ntigha junction of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Eyewitnesses said the robbers carted away undisclosed sum of cash being conveyed by the bullion van.
The rapid response team of police drafted to the scene following a distress call, was said to have neutralised one of the robbers before others escaped the scene with bullet wounds.
Confirming the incident, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the robbers ambushed the bullion van at the expressway and opened fire on them immediately they approached the junction.
He explained that the robbers shot dead the Cash Officer of the bank accompanying the billion van as he attempted to escape for dear life.
According to the PPRO, three police personnel escorting to van were injured during exchange of fire, and have been taken to the hospital.
Ogbonna said that an AK47 rifle with three loaded magazines strapped together were recovered from the robbers who fled as one of them was neutralised.
According to him, “based on a distress call, teams of tactical operatives were dispatched to the scene. At the scene, one Inspector from the Counter Terrorist Unit, CTU, base 4 Aba, was met and he stated that he along with five others while escorting a bullion van from Ogukwu streets Aba to Umuahia ran into a gang of armed robbers who had barricaded the highway and were firing sporadically.
“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 armed 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. An investigation has commenced.”
The PPRO urged hospitals as well as members of the public to volunteer information to the police about anyone in their vicinity who has bullet wounds, for interrogation.
