Robbers shoot reverend father in Owerri bank raid

Armed robbers struck in Owerri, the Imo State
capital, when they attacked a branch of a first
generation bank at Umuelemanya in Ehime
Mbano Local Government Area, carting away
millions of naira. The robbers disarmed the
security men at the gate and forced their way
into the bank. At least three people, including
a revered father, were shot in the incident,
which occurred about 4p.m. The reverend
father, who was in the bank to transact
business, was shot in the leg.
A source told our correspondent that the robbers,
numbering about eight, shot sporadically into the air
to gain access into the bank's strong room, where
they stole millions of naira.
According to the source, all the customers were
ordered to lie face down, while some of the bandits
watched over them.
It was gathered that before the arrival of law
enforcement agents, the robbers had fled with their
loot.
When contacted on telephone, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP Vitalis Onugu, said that the
report of the robbery had not reached his office.
Meanwhile, the identity of the reverend father was
not known at press time, but a source said he was
rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.