Policemen attached to Bode Thomas division in Surulere area of Lagos, yesterday, shot dead two suspected members of a robbery gang, that specialized in attacking bank customers. Recovered from the bandits were two locally made double barrel cut to size guns with three live cartridges.

Eye witnesses said the bandits numbering four, stationed their operational motorcycles close to one of the new generation banks at Eric Moore Junction, waiting for their victims, around 11a.m.

They were said to have attacked a man, who was going to deposit the sum of N300,000 by firing shots into the air to scare away intruders. Unknown to them, policemen on patrol had sighted them, leading to a gun duel, at the end of which two of them were gunned down. Motorists plying the route as well as commercial motorcyclists hurriedly made u-turn to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

Unfortunately for the bank customer, his money was collected by the two members of the gang, who managed to escape on their operational motorcycle.

Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Samuel Jinadu, said the policemen were prevented from shooting into the crowd while the fleeing robbers were escaping in order to prevent innocent persons from being hit by stray bullet. Their corpses, he said, had been removed by the policemen, to allow for free flow of traffic.