The Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command has arrested two policemen in connection with the recent armed robbery attack of the Alaba branch of Mainstreet Bank.

The robbery incident according to a Police source at SARS occurred on June, 11, 2014, and one Corporal Nathaniel, among security operative escorting the money to the bank’s bullion van, was killed as the robbers on motorbike struck.

“They snatched bags containing the money from a one of the staff of the Mainstreet bank and zoomed off on their power-bike.”

The policemen held in connection with the robbery, were recalled from a promotional course they had gone to attend. One of the recalled and arrested policemen is a sergeant, while the other is a corporal.

A police source said that the money carted away by the robbers ran into millions of naira.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the robbery, but insisted that no policeman was arrested in connection with the robbery. A police source explained that police escorted the bank’s bullion van from Apapa to Alaba where they were attacked.

The police escorts were identified as Inspector Benjamin Ene and the slain Corporal Nathaniel.

It was gathered that the two policemen on the fateful day, followed the bullion van from one branch of the bank to another, in what was described as ‘collation of money from customers.’

They had paid visits to two big customers, including a filling station, before they made their way to Alaba International Market.

After collecting the money, the bank officials with the bullion van were expected to take the money to the bank’s head office. They were however at Alaba, when they were attacked by the robbers.

Preliminary investigation led to the arrest of the two policemen who were on a promotion course. They were recalled from the course and are currently being quizzed. Another police source said: “The police escorts were heading to Alaba to collect money from their bank, but the roads were blocked. There was heavy traffic. The bullion van could not drive forward.

“The two cashiers who went with the bullion van decided to trek inside and pick the money. They asked the two policemen and the driver of the bullion van to wait. It was later discovered that a bulldozer blocked the road, causing traffic.

“Just as the cashiers were about to put the money into the van, the robbers struck, killing the corporal instantly. The inspector, Benjamin Ene, the driver of the bullion van and the two cashiers ran away. The robbers took the money and escaped on motorbike. They also made away with the slain corporal’s AK47 rifle,” the source said.

Eye witnesses claimed to have noticed the robbers standing for a while beside the bullion van, just waiting for the cashiers to come with the money before they attacked. It was gathered that after the State’s Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko heard about the incident, he had suspected foul play and had immediately ordered the arrest of Inspector Benjamin Ene. Ene was held for embarking on illegal duty.

The two cashiers, Mr. Obadina and Akinbo were also arrested. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Apapa Police Station, CSP Usman Ndabobo reportedly declared that the deceased police corporal and the detained inspector were on illegal duty.

It was learnt that Ndabobo in his several lectures with his men, had repeatedly warned them, not to go on escort duties outside Apapa jurisdiction. The Station Officer of the division also said he had re-emphasised the DPO’s warnings on several occasions, but Ene and Nathaniel had apparently turned a deaf ear. The warnings were also placed on daily bulletin, on the notice board.

Braide said: “There was no policeman arrested in connection with that bank robbery. We’re highly suspecting insiders’ connection because of the way the robbery was carried out. Two staff and a security guard of the bank have been arrested.”