Tragedy was averted in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday, June 13, when a group of heavily armed men launched a brazen attack on the First Bank Plc branch in Abaji and the nearby Divisional Police Headquarters. The simultaneous assault, which occurred around 5 p.m., was swiftly met with a decisive response from the FCT Police Command and the military.
According to a statement, “The FCT Police Command, led by its Commissioner, CP Benneth C. Igweh, in a combined operation with the military, mobilised and repelled the attack carried out by a group of 15 armed men who attacked with dynamites in an attempt to rob the bank.”
The armed assailants, numbering 15, were equipped with dynamites and launched their assault in a bid to carry out a daring bank robbery. However, their plans were foiled by the combined security forces, who engaged them in an intense gun battle.
“The combined security forces engaged the armed men in an intense gun duel, forcing them to scamper to safety with various degrees of bullet wounds,” the statement detailed.
During the fierce exchange of gunfire, the security forces succeeded in apprehending three suspects, including Usman (surname yet unknown), who was reported to be the gang leader, Nuhu Musa, 41, from Kogi State, and Muhammed Aminu, 25, from Abaji. All three suspects sustained grave bullet injuries during the confrontation.
Tragically, the gun battle claimed the lives of one police operative and the gang leader, who were both hit by bullets during the intense firefight. They were rushed to the hospital, but the doctor on duty confirmed their deaths. Several other individuals involved in the incident are currently receiving treatment for their injuries.
In a shocking turn of events, an unidentified suspect, who had been neutralized by the security forces, was set ablaze by an irate mob at the scene.
As the search operation continues to apprehend the fleeing suspects who sustained bullet injuries, CP Igweh commended the effectiveness of the combined security forces operation, reaffirming the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of residents in the Federal Capital Territory.
“CP Igweh commended the effectiveness of the combined security forces operation and reaffirms the command’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that the FCT remains inhabitable for criminals, noting that the safety of the residents of FCT is non-negotiable,” the statement read.