The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Thursday said it has arrested a senior bank staff and an ex- sergeant dismissed from the Police Force over a recent armed robbery in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
A statement from Police spokesman DCP, Don Awunah said the police recovered catches of arms and ammunition from the suspects arrested over the robbery attack on Access Bank Branch in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
He said those arrested include: “Samuel Ndudiri staff of the Bank, a principal suspect and the master mind of the foiled armed robbery attack.”
Others are: “Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma a dismissed Policeman, Samuel Nwala, Lucky Ukwuoma and Kaale Taagabah .”
He added that exhibits recovered from the suspects include: “Two AK 47 rifles and magazines fully loaded with ammunition, a welding machine, two gas cylinders and iron cutters, a big chisel, cutting saw, hammer and acetylene gas power.”
Awunah further explained that on the 22nd December, 2016, the five suspects and other still at large stormed a Branch of Access Bank PLC in Port Harcourt, relying on information and active involvement of the staff of the Bank.
He added that the armed robbers successfully broke down the well-fortified security doors and barriers and took over the banking hall.
He said they were almost pulling down the vault of the Bank and other strong rooms in the bank with use of gas cylinder welding machine and iron cutters 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 added that the police thereby foiled the armed robbery attack on the Bank and made prompt arrest of three of the suspects at the scene; Samuel Nwala, Lucky Ukwuoma, and Kaale Taagabah.
He explained that in the course of investigation into the foiled armed robbery attack on the Bank; the principal suspect who is a staff of the Bank was subsequently arrested based on the confessional statements volunteered by the last three suspects arrested at the scene.
The arrest of the principal suspect, Awunah said led to the arrest of Ex SGT Promise Ukwuoma who participated actively in the armed robbery attack, the two AK 47 riffles and the ammunition were recovered from him.
He noted that 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.
He added that efforts are being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and bring them to justice, while the case will be charged to court on completion of investigation.
