The Nigerian Police Force has revealed how its personnel foiled a robbery attempt on one of the branches of Access Bank in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Force spokesman Don Awunah in a press statement on Thursday, narrated that the robbery was masterminded by one Samuel Ndudiri, a senior staff of the bank, adding that an ex-sergeant with the Nigerian police was also actively involved in the robbery.

According to Awunah, the suspects arrested include: “Samuel Ndudiri – staff of the Bank and principal suspect; Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma – a dismissed Policeman; Samuel Nwala; Lucky Ukwuoma and Kaale Taagabah.

The police PRO stated that the armed robbers had successfully broke down the security doors, taken over the banking hall, and were almost pulling down the vault and other strong rooms in the bank “before the joint Police Teams of IGP’S Intelligence Response Team and Policemen from Rivers state Police Command swiftly moved in and dislodged them.”

He said that 3 of the suspects were arrested at the scene of the incident, adding that further investigation led to the arrest of the principal suspect “who is a staff of the Bank and the master mind of the armed robbery attack.”

“The arrest of the principal suspect led to the arrest of Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma who participated actively in the armed robbery attack on the Bank,” Awunah stated.

“All the suspects have volunteered confessional and useful statements to the Police about the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.

“However, concerted efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and bring them to justice.

“The case will be charged to court on completion of investigation,” he said.

Items recovered from the suspects include: Two (2) AK 47 Rifles and magazines fully loaded with Ammunition, a welding machine, Two (2) Gas cylinders and iron cutters, a big Chisel, Cutting saw, a Hammer and Acetylene gas power.