There was tension in Abaji, an area council in the FCT, following the killing and burning of a suspected armed robber.
According to eyewitnesses, the robbers invaded a bank in the town on Thursday, June 13, at about 5:30pm.
A police officer revealed that the robbers first attacked the police station along Toto road where an inspector simply identified as Abila was shot dead.
He said the robbers, who alighted from two unmarked vehicles, started firing into the police station.
“In fact, it is God that saved me because when the robbers alighted from the vehicle, they started shooting into the police station. While I managed to escaped, an inspector who had earlier escaped later turned back because they had shot him on the chest,” he told DailyTrust.
It was gathered that some members of the gang proceeded to the FirstBank branch located at the roundabout and started shooting sporadically.
One of the staff of the bank who craved anonymity said the robbers could not succeed in accessing in the strong room where the bulk monies were kept but made away with some cash at the counter.
He said the robbers first shot a guard who ran into the toilet of the bank security house, before they walked into the bank.
Few minutes later, a combined team of police, soldiers, vigilante and hunters quickly mobilized to the scene and engaged the robbers in a fierce gun battle, which led to killing of two of the robbers.
An angry mob seized one of the corpses and set it ablaze.
Meanwhile, the FCT police commissioner, CP Benneth Igweh, confirmed that two of the robbers were shot dead during exchange of gunfire with security operatives.
