Suspected armed robbers shot and killed four policemen and a middle-aged man identified as a regional manager of a new generation bank in Rivers State yesterday.
THISDAY gathered that the incident took place at about 9:45a.m. at the Igwuruta Roundabout in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The bank manager was said to be in a Toyota Hilux Van with the policemen conveying an unspecified amount of money to another destination when the suspected robbers, who had laid ambush for them, attacked them, killing all five occupants of the vehicle.
The robbers were said to have left with the money stashed in a Ghana-must-go bag after killing their victims.
According to the eyewitness, “The operation took place at the Igwuruta Roundabout. The armed robbers must have hidden somewhere, waiting for the policemen to come out of the bank before they struck.
“Four policemen were killed and one of the policemen, who tried to escape, was also killed after he was hit by the armed robbers’ bullets.
“The heavy gunshots on the Hilux van did not give the policemen any chance for survival. Everybody ran away when they heard the sound of gunshots. Some commercial bus and taxi drivers abandoned their vehicles and ran away.”
The Assistant Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.
Iringe-Koko described the incident as an armed robbery attack, but said the security agencies had begun investigation with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and make them face the law.
She said: “It was a robbery attack where the police officers and one regional bank manager were killed.
“Investigation has begun and the police will get the perpetrators of the crime. I will give you the details of the incident later,” Iringe-Koko said.