By ALBERT AKPOR
The sound was deafening, staccato and rapid too.  It was strange, invoking fears and trepidation.  It was an admixture of deafening sounds from the blasts of dynamites, rocket launchers and Ak 47 assault rifles.  Residents had their sleep rudely interrupted, wondering what was happening.

Some, close to the police station, wasted no time in placing calls to clarify the situation.  Shock set in when it was discovered that even the police that was to be called for clarification, was the target of attack.  Then it became clear that the perpetrators were enemies of the society.  They were dare-devil armed robbers!  Their chosen theatre was the police station and the two banks beside each other in the sleepy town of Igara, Edo state.

It was the very early hours of Saturday, May 12, 20012, and time was approximately 1.30am.

As it was latter proven, the robbers did not just strike, they acted on information.

It was reliably gathered that the previous day, there was a movement of huge sums of money from Benin and Auchi branches of the bank to Igara – mind you, the police is currently working on the premise that the invasion of the town was more of an insiders’ job.  The kingpin of the bandits is with the police.  This, after he was rounded up in hospital where he was being treated for bullet wounds!

The hoodlums, just about a dozen, were tactical in their operation.

*One of the vehicles in which the hoodlums operated (inset) Weapons recovered from the bandits

They came in three vehicles loaded with uncommon arms and ammunition.

On arrival, they divided the group into two equal numbers.  Six of them from one vehicle, manned the police station, five in another vehicle moved towards the banks while the remaining one was positioned at a junction connecting the major road from the banks.

Those at the police station were to prevent counter offensive from the law enforcement agents while the operation at the banks lasted.  They were also to cart as many arms and ammunition as possible if they succeed in breaking into the armoury.    The one-man gang at the junction was to evacuate members at the speed of light should any emergency occur.  Thus, the stage was set for a shoot out with the Police.

Unarguably, Policemen at the station were taken unawares.

First, as trained personnel they took cover while their attackers rained bullets ceaselessly.  Believing they had triumphed, the bandits made for the amroury; just then, came a reprisal from the police.  But the hoodlums had broken into the armoury, sized two AK 47 rifles with which they shot their way to escape.

At the banks, policemen on guard duty with the assistance of members of the vigilante made life difficult for the bandits commissioned to rob the banks.

At that juncture, there was a fierce gun battle.  The Police succeeded in killing the ‘commander’ of the gang, thereby foiling the operation momentarily.

But the robbers were not about to give up.

The only option open to them was to shoot their way out.  But even that option was never going to be a safe one.

Meanwhile, the police intensified their counter-offensive.

The bus which conveyed the robbers to the area and stationed at the bank had been riddled with bullets and demobilized.  The hoodlums took to their heels while the police gave them a hot chase.

Unknown to the robbers, the Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, had ordered for a re-enforcement from Ibilo and Auchi.  The officers and men arrived and laid ambush at the Ibilo junction.  There, another round of firing ensued.  The terrain of the area being a hilly one made it a bit easy for the robbers to seek refuge in a cave on the Igara hills.  Undaunted, the police advanced while the robbers kept shooting.

The dexterity of the Police came to light as two members of the gang again fell to the bullets of the Police; but unfortunately, two members of the vigilante group were caught in the cross fire and were hit by bullets; and they have since been treated and discharged.

Recounting how the police succeeded in foiling the bank robbery and recovering arms and ammunition, Balogun said it all boils down to the determination and dedication of the men to duty.

He said his men displayed uncommon gallantry and deserved the commendation of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, M D Abubakar.

Unknown to residents of the area, the hot chase by the Police against the hoodlums was not witnessed by many because most residents had taken cover.  It was this chase that residents mistook for a retreat on the part of the Police.  Meanwhile, the tactical decision of the Police to allow the men waste their ammunitions while firing at the station was what some misinterpreted as a retreat by men of the Force Sunday vanguard was made to understand.

The state police boss was quick to admit that when he was posted to the Edo State command, he knew he was going to face an uphill challenge, refusing however, to believe that there is a particular state that is crime prone.  He said, “I do not want to believe that crime is on the increase in Edo State.

There is no state without any form of crime and criminality; it depends on the zeal and willingness to fight it.  When I received the distress call that early morning, around 2am, I made contact with my men and we were in communication.  At every point we were talking and I was giving them directives on what to do.

My ops officer too was not asleep; he, too, was talking.  But I thank God that we were able to foil the bank robbery.  Let me tell you, the robbers did not just come, they came as a result of information they received perhaps from an insider in the banks or somewhere.

The previous day, Friday, there was movement of money from Benin and Auchi branches of the bank and so when on Saturday morning they came it was obvious that they acted on information.  What we are going to do is to investigate it properly and of course, invite officials of the banks that went for the money that Friday.

Already, a member of the gang named Abdulmaleek Aliu of Eganyi, Ajakokuta LGA in Kogi State has been arrested with multiple bullet wounds.  He was being treated in hospital when my men rounded him up.  During interrogation, he confessed to have participated in the foiled bank robbery.  He even said he was not the leader but second in command.

He said the gang was led by one Musa adding that they were twelve in number. The Musa he said was the one that died during the operation at the bank.  He said the other members of the gang were Ibrahim, alais IB, Oko alais allover, Enowo, all from different areas of Adavi in Kogi State.

He further named one Ayo as their medicine man (Imam) living at Idogogo area of the same Adavi.  So we are investigating it and we will go after them.  That attack was a serious one but do not forget that we are trained on arms handling they are not.  So while they were busy shooting sporadically we were targeting and that was why we were able to get their ringleader.  Investigations are on to get the other members of the gang arrested”, he said.

Continuing, CP Balogun assured that, “I promised myself when I was posted here that one thing I would like to be remembered for is to leave the state better than I met it in terms of crime and criminality.  And by the grace of God we are committed to doing that.”