Armed robbers dispossess businessmen of N3.5 million cash in Yenagoa

A four-member armed gang on Friday attacked and robbed two businessmen of the sum of N3.5 million at the Amarata area of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa  capital.

It was learnt that the businessmen, Mohammed Garuba and his brother, Abubakar, were attacked by the armed robbers at about 11am  near one of the commercial banks in the area where they had gone to withdraw the money.

They were driving away in their Lexus Toyota SUV when, a few meters away from the bank located along the Mbiama-Yenagoa, the bandits blocked them with a Toyota Corolla car  and collected the N3.5 million and fired  several shots at their victims.

Mohammed said at the scene of the incident that the criminals had parked their car in front of a supermarket where they apparently waited for him and his brother.

He said that three of the gang members who held AK-47 rifles in their hands fiercly approached his passenger side and broke the glass, asking him to give them the money or else they would shoot him.

Mohammed, whose cloth was stained with some blood, narrated the incident amidst tears, "Just as we came out of the bank and drove to this place, they blocked us.

“They were four in number with a driver. Three of them carry AK-47 riffles.

"They shot me but their bullet did not enter my body; then they slapped me in the face and went to my brother's side who was driving and shot him in his right thigh.

"He said I should give them the money and I gave them the money and they sped away. My brother has been taken to hospital." The victim lamented.

It was observed that the driver's seat where the hoodlums shot Abubakar was stained with his blood while Mohammed's side had broken glasses on the seat and on the ground, with patches of blood.

The development, which caused panic in the area as residents fled for their lives and shop owners locked up their shops, resulted in a gridlock along the Amarata-Onopa axis of the Mbiama-Yenagoa Road for several hours.

When asked what they wanted to do with the stolen N3.5million, Mohammed said it was for a business transaction with their business partner who insisted on receiving payment in cash rather than through bank transfer.

He also said he suspected that there was an informant in the bank who was in touch with the armed robbers, adding that he and his wounded brother spent about two hours in the bank.

Mohammed said that he and Abubakar did not park their vehicle in front of the bank like other customers, but inside the bank's premises after they were allowed in through the special gate for bullion vans and high-profile customers.

Mr Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police who confirmed the incident said the Police was investigating the possibility of an ‘inside job’.

We are looking at those leads, you know as a businessman, there is that possibility that he may have carelessly disclosed the transaction,” Butswat said.