A combined team of police personnel of the FCT Command and other security agencies, on Thursday, in Abaji, neutralized two armed robbers who, along with other gang members, invaded a bank located in the community.
Sources disclosed that during the shootout that ensued, one of the police personnel was shot, while a security guard working in the bank also sustained a gunshot injury.
Furthermore, irate/angry residents of Abaji area council pounced on one of the wounded armed robbers who could not escape and set him ablaze during the incident.
According to sources, the robbers who invaded the bank at about 5 p.m. when it was winding down operations for the day first attacked the police station along Toto Road, where an inspector, identified as Inspector Habila, was shot dead.
The robbers were said to have disembarked from two unmarked vehicles and started firing at the police station in a surprise attack, resulting in the inspector being hit in the chest.
Thereafter, some members of the gang proceeded to the bank and started shooting sporadically.
Sources said the robbers, who could not succeed in accessing the strong room where the bulk monies were kept, only succeeded in carting away some cash at the counter, adding that a bank security guard who tried to hide was shot by the robbers.
A combined team of police, soldiers, vigilantes, and hunters thereafter quickly mobilised to the scene and engaged the robbers in a fierce gun battle, which led to the killing of two among them. At the same time, one with a gunshot wound who could not escape was caught by angry residents and set ablaze.
FCT Police Commissioner, CP Benneth Igweh, who arrived at the scene of the crime moments later, confirmed that two of the robbers were shot dead during an exchange of gunfire with security operatives.
He disclosed that police anti-robbery squad and hunters have been deployed in the bush along the Abaji area to trace the fleeing robbers.
While commending the effort of the combined team of security agents for foiling the attack, CP Igweh commiserated with the family of the deceased inspector.