THE Ogun state police command has confirmed that armed robbers on Friday, May 26, carted away N11 million and not $11 million, as widely speculated, in an armed robbery attack in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Many reports on Saturday said the robbers stole $11 million in the operation.
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The reports added that the robbers, wearing black T-shirts, jean trousers and facemasks, operated successfully at Oke-Sokori in the Abeokuta North local government area.
They attacked a Hausa trader in a Toyota Venza salon car and dispossessed him of some money.
The robbers, who brandished rifles in the three-minute robbery act, were said to have fled the scene with their loot piled in two ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bags.
But in a chat with The ICIR on Saturday, May 27, the police public relations officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident in a phone conversation but said the robbers took away N11 million and not $11 million as widely reported.
“Yes, we can confirm that it is true there was an armed robbery attack yesterday, but the money they carted away was not $11 million but N11 million.
“Where will somebody get $11 million? They attacked the man’s car and took away N11 million. He collected N5.5 million from the FCMB and another N5.5 million from Zenith. They traced him and collected the money.
“Unfortunately, the suspects escaped the scene before our operatives could arrive at the scene,” Oyeyemi said.
He added that the police authorities in Ogun State had commenced a search for the armed robbery gang.
“Upon receipt of information about the incident, the command had immediately sent a signal across the state to ensure that the suspects are tracked down,” he said.
He assured the people of the state of adequate security and urged them to remain calm and go about their regular businesses.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance