The police in Lagos State, on Tuesday, foiled a robbery attempt on two new generation banks in the FESTAC area of the state.

The unsuccessful robbery, which lasted for several hours, was abandoned due to the confrontation the Nigerian Police and other security agencies had with the robbers.

The Area Commander, Area E, FESTAC division, Mr Frank Mba, who briefed newsmen on the incident, said that the command received information about the robbery at about 8.25 a.m.

“Today, October 13 2015, at about 8.25 a.m., the command received information on sporadic shooting going on at 4th avenue, FESTAC Town.

“A joint team of policemen from the Area ‘E’ Command and FESTAC Division promptly responded to the incident.

“On arrival at the scene, the policemen engaged a gang of armed robbers numbering over 40 all dressed in military camouflage and armed to the teeth.

“The police engaged them in a fierce gun battle that lasted several minutes notwithstanding the clear numerical disadvantage of the police at the beginning of this operation.

“The hot exchange of fire between the policemen and the robbers who incidentally had shared themselves into two groups by simultaneously robbing two banks forced the robbers to abruptly end their operation.

“They consequently abandoned the operation and they were also forced to abandon the sum of N27 million but as they were fleeing, they were equally forced to abandon a total of 240 live ammunition.

“The money was later recovered by the police and escorted to another branch of one of the banks located somewhere along 2nd Avenue where the money was deposited.

“The scene of crime was later cordoned off while support teams from the command headquarters, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja and also the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Panti, as well as men of the Nigerian Army from Ojo Cantonment joined us,” he said.

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