Six members of a robbery gang were on Thursday killed during a foiled bank robbery at the Seme border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin. Lagos Metro gathered that the robbers had for some months, reportedly been planning how to attack banks at the Seme border.
Members of the gang had also reportedly planned to attack the Bureau de Change operators at the border. The incident, which happened around 12 noon, on Thursday, created serious confusion at the Nigerian-Benin Republic border. Policemen from the Nigeria Police Force, Benin Republic Regional Police Force, Nigerian Customs Service and Nigerian Immigration Services took part in the battle against the bandits. The suspects attempted to enter Nigeria through the border route, but they were resisted by the vigilant joint security force. Recovered from them are: one speed boat, 883 live ammunition, six loaded ‘Magazines’, Dynamites, rocket launcher, explosives and other deadly weapons. The commissioner of police, Lagos State command, Fatai Owoseni, visited the scene in company of the Regional Director Department of Police, Benin Republic, Ogouchoro Severin; Customs Area controller, Seme border, Victor Dimka, among others. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Tunji Disu said that intelligence report was received two weeks ago that some hoodlums were planning to raid some banks and Bureau de change operators in Seme. “It was the synergy between Nigeria government and that of Benin Republic that led to the successful operation which foiled the attempt by the armed robbers,” the Lagos State police boss said, adding, “as they were going to attack banks in Seme, we gave them the fight of their lives and they abandoned their boats, arms and ammunition and fled through the waterways to Benin Republic, where we also engaged them in a fierce gun battle. “Some of them fell inside the water. Three of them were arrested while some of them escaped with bullet injuries. We are appealing to Nigerians and Beninois to report to the nearest security post when they see dead bodies floating in the water or persons with bullet injuries,” CP Owoseni said. The Benin Republic police chief, Severin said, “with the sophisticated weapon recovered from the robbers, it would have been bloody if they were not repelled on time.” Severin also pledged that his country would continue to work with the Nigerian security forces at Seme border to fight crimes and criminality.
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