Four bank staff arrested for robbery attack on bullion van, escort

The Police in Asaba, Delta State has arrested the cash management officer, the chief security officer and two drivers of UBA as accessory to an armed robbery attack on the bank's bullion van and security escort conveying N25 million.

The UBA-CMO, one Amina Oyewole a female and the others were arrested by Delta State Police Command following an armed robbery attack which occurred Tuesday, September 5, 2017 between Otulu and Ubulu-Okiti, along Asaba/Benin expressway, Delta State.

According to the Command spokesman, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, their arrest followed preliminary investigation into the attack which revealed that, "in a bid to cut corners, the bank officials illegally picked seven police officers from different locations, yet to be determined, and engaged them on an illegal escort for the conveyance of the sum of N25 million naira from its branch in Agbor to Asaba without using a serviceable, secure, armoured bullion van as required by law.”

DSP further revealed that when the bank officials earlier approached the Operations Department of the Command for escort men, their request was turned down on the grounds that the bank does not have a serviceable bullion van needed for such operations.

The Command PRO said the robbery operation was successful and one of the police escorts was fatally injured by the armed robbers who also emptied the N25 million into their cars - a Honda Pilot Jeep and Toyota Corolla, which registration numbers could not be ascertained, and escaped.

The Police authorities warned that henceforth banks requiring police escort must adhere to laid down regulations on specie escort especially during the ”ember” months.

Daily Trust