The attack on a bullion vehicle transporting money from a new generation bank in Aba to Umuahia has been confirmed by the police in Abia state.
According to SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, the police public relations officer for the Abia State Command, the criminals blocked off the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and set up a trap for the bullion van.
He also said that the robbers' AK47 gun and three loaded magazines was recovered from the criminals.
He said,
“Based on a distress call, teams of tactical operatives were dispatched to the scene. At the scene, one inspector Leo Francis of CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) base 4 Aba was met and he stated that he along with five others while escorting a bullion van from Aba to Umuahia ran into a gang of armed robbers who had barricaded the high way and were firing sporadically.“Efforts made to stop the bullion van and escort vehicle yielded no dividend as the driver veered into the bush.“The cash officer accompanying the bullion van was shot dead on the spot, 3 policemen on escort sustained bullet injuries while one of the armed robbers was neutralized and his AK 47, rifle with 90 rounds of ammunition was recovered.“The injured policemen were rushed to the hospital while the deceased, are deposited in the morgue for preservation. An investigation has Commenced.The robbers were said to have carted away with an undisclosed sum of cash.”
As some of the thieves left with gunshot wounds, he also requested hospitals in the state to notify anyone in their facilities with gun wound.
