Armed men, suspected to be renegade militants, in the early hours of, yesterday, launched a daring attack on a bank (names withheld) at the university town of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and carted away some Automated Teller Machines. ATMs
The invaders, about 12 in number, and armed with sophisticated weapons and dynamites, reportedly stormed the riverside community at about 12.35 am through the waterways. Sources from the community told Sunday Vanguard that, though men of the Amassoma Police Division engaged the hoodlums in gunfight, the invaders overwhelmed the policemen.
It was gathered that the gunmen shot their way to a new generation bank, located some distance away from the waterfront, causing the security guards to scamper for safety. “The armed men threw dynamites at the walls of the bank, bringing down its fences. They gained access to the bank premises but were unable to get in after much attempt,”an eye witness said.
“They therefore blew up the walls holding the ATM machines and made away with them.” The community, it was further gathered, had lately come under armed robbery attacks. “We are now under threat from thieves, rapists and robbers. Painfully, this is the town where the Niger Delta University is situated, thereby exposing students to more danger,”the eye witness added. “Overtime, students have constantly faced attacks from robbers.”
The spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the development, said, though the armed bandits attacked the bank with dynamites, “they did not cart away the ATM machines.”
His words, “On 12 March, 2016, at about 0035hrs, unknown gunmen in three speedboats invaded Amassoma Police Division. “Shortly afterwards, the hoodlums attacked a bank, damaged the ATM machines and attempted to enter the bank, but were repelled by a reinforced unit of policemen. “No life was lost and money was not stolen. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”