Police vow to arrest FESTAC bank robbers, finger prints analysis ongoing

Mr Bala Hassan, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, made the assertion when he visited the robbery scene on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that robbers numbering 40 robbed Access and Diamond banks on 4th Avenue in FESTAC TOWN, an incident where a stray bullet killed a mother and her child in their apartment.

Hassan, who spoke with newsmen at the robbery scene, said that a forensic laboratory was recently opened for such investigations, stressing that the perpetrators of the act must be arrested.

"An office had just been opened at the order of the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Solomon Arase for forensic reports and analysis.

"We are not sending any of the finger prints and all other sundry investigations overseas for analysis; we are going to conduct them here.

"We are coming out with the results soon and we promise to bring the perpetrators to book,’’ he said.

The AIG added that members of the public should ensure that they divulged useful information to the police to enable them avert such incidents.

"We implore members of the public to help the police, I am sure the people that carried out this plan would have planned it somewhere.

"It could have been in a drinking joint. If someone had call on the Commissioner of Police that some people are planning a suspicious act somewhere, they would have been rounded off and arrested.

"We are in the ember wants, and as people want to celebrate Christmas, many want to enjoy the Christmas through unlawful means,’’ he said.

Hassan added that the Marine Police could not have accessed the carnal that was used by the robbers because of its location.

"The marine police could not have done anything with the place the carnal was located, there is a small a market there.

"We would have ended up with a lot of casualties from the bank and the neighboring community if we had engaged the robbers.

"They are not uniformed men, they were dressed in different uniforms to create an atmosphere of intimidation to carry out their evil act,’’ he said.

He urged members of the public in Lagos and Ogun states to go about their daily activities peacefully, adding that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be brought to justice soon.

Hassan said that the only way to win the hearts and trust of the people in Lagos and Ogun states was to bring the perpetrators to face the dose of the law.

Also addressing the media at the scene, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, identified some of the challenges the police faced.

He said that some of the creeks that were used by the robbers were where innocent people reside and it was difficult operating in such environments.

"This is part of our challenges that Nigerians do not know. This carnal is close to a market.

"Because of the way the robbers were dressed, the people could not recognise them early enough; they thought they were taskforce officials.

"We take what is left back to restrategise and ensure that places that are vulnerable are well protected in Ogun and Lagos states,’’ he said.

Owoseni said that Access Bank was set to commence operations again while Diamond Bank was still repairing some damaged properties.

Mr Dipo Olorunrinumi, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency, said that the community would help the police with necessary information to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He added that the community had commenced the blockage of vulnerable places to ensure that the incident would not happen again.

"We have commenced the blockage of some places the community feels the robbers could use to have access into the community to avert such incidents.

"We will ensure that all necessary information that can help the police to arrest the robbers will be given,’’ Olorunrinumi said.

He said that the community had visited the family of the woman that lost her life and that of her daughter and would be fully involved in the burial arrangements.