Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Police operatives in Anambra, Tuesday, foiled an armed robbery attack targeted at a commercial bank at Ihiala, Ihiala Local Government Area of the State.
Ikengaonline gathered that the hoodlums stormed Nkwo market, Ihiala around 12 pm, disrupting commercial activities and vehicular movement going on in the area.
It also learnt that the gunmen arrived the area on motorbikes and shot sporadically in an attempt to rob a bank located in the area but were dislodged by security operatives in the area.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the bank was hit by stray bullet on the leg during the attack.
He said the victim has been taken to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
He alleged that the attack was carried out by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Nkwo market, Ihiala at about 12:30pm on Tuesday.
“The outlawed group members armed with guns and other dangerous weapons came out in their numbers on a motorbike and started shooting sporadically, in an attempt to rob a bank and to disrupt commercial activities and vehicular movement going on in Ihaila.
“The joint operatives responded swiftly which made the armed men abandon their evil plan and took to their heels.
“Unfortunately, due to the indiscriminate shootings by the armed group, a stray bullet hit the chief security officer CSO of the bank on the leg and he has been taken to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. No life was lost,” Ikenga said.
The PPRO, however, said calm had returned in the area as Police with other security forces have intensified patrols, and improved security dominance and surveillance in the State.
