Photos: Christmas Robbers attack bullion van, escape with cash

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Armed robbers attacked a cash-laden bullion van at Elemoso village along Ondo-Akure Road in the Ondo East Local Government Area of the state.

The robbers were said to have looted the bullion van and escaped with undisclosed amount of money.

The bullion van and the escort vehicle were found ridden with bullets in the incident which was said to have occurred at about 4.50pm, while the robbers made away with the cash supposedly belonging to United Bank for Africa.

An eyewitness told PUNCH Metro that policemen that escorted the bullion van were caught unawares after the armed robbers rained bullets on the police escort vehicle and the bullion van simultaneously.

He said, “The policemen and the driver of the van took to their heels immediately the hoodlums opened fire on them. The operation lasted for just about seven minutes.

“The speed breaker erected on the highway helped the armed men. They overtook the vans and opened fire on the policemen before they could realise what was going on. The men were better equipped because they operated with confidence.”

However a middle-aged man, simply identified as Pastor Ajah, who was coming from Ondo town ran into the rain of bullets and sustained bullet wounds.

Ajah, a school proprietor in the area, was said to be coming from a mechanic workshop in Ondo town with his vehicle when he ran into the hoodlums who opened fire on him. He was said to have been taken to a general hospital.

Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, described the attack as shocking, adding that the police had launched a manhunt to track and arrest the robbers.

Eke said, “The command suspects conspiracy in the attack. Official booking of security was not made at the Police Operations Department before the assignment was carried out.

“Also, none of the escort police officers in the convoy had reported to the station. Their whereabouts remained unknown.