One of the policemen and the driver, who were killed at the PWD area of Ikeja by the rampaging robbers, were both in a commercial vehicle with number plate XQ 336 EKY.
The two other policemen, who were in a patrol van, were killed on Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.
Also, a one-year-old baby identified as Taiye and several others sustained gunshot wounds when some armed robbers suspected to be members of the same gang invaded Gbagada later in the day.
Other places where the gang robbed between 1pm and 3pm – were Agege, Anthony, Ojodu, Itire, Ikeja and Ilasamaja areas of the state. The hoodlums attacked various bureau de change operators in the respective areas, robbed motorists and shot policemen.
One of our correspondents, who visited Gbagada, reported that the robbers also robbed recharge card vendors, food sellers and riddled many vehicles with bullets.
A witness, who declined to give his name, said the robbers came in two vehicles.
He said, “Around 1pm, robbers stormed Roundabout Bus Stop (Gbagada) in a Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Camry and started shooting into the air.
“Three policemen in a white Volkswagen car confronted them but one of the policemen was shot. The policemen immediately entered the vehicle and drove off.
“The robbers then proceeded to a recharge card vendor’s shop and stole her money. They also robbed some motorists in the process.
“While shooting indiscriminately, a stray bullet hit Taiye, a one-year-old baby, who was outside. Another resident, Sikiru Abiodun, who was in his car, sustained injuries as well. The policemen ran away and did not even come back to help victims as the robbers operated unhindered for 30 minutes.”
We lost millions of naira –Bureau de Change operators
The Chairman of the bureau de change operators at Gbagada, Alhaji Jubril Mukaila, said the robbers made away with millions of naira and shot one of his members.
He said, “I was in my shop when some robbers pointed guns at me and asked for my money. Because I did not respond on time, they started shooting indiscriminately.
“They shot one of my boys, Asumo, and then riddled the whole shop with bullets. They took away all the money in my drawer and then pushed Asumo and me on the floor. They carried chairs and placed them on top of us before fleeing.
“The robbers went to other bureau de change operators and robbed them as well before fleeing.”
One of our correspondents, who visited Gbagada General Hospital, reported that scores of sympathisers trooped in to see the victims.
The baby was placed on drip while the other victims were sedated.
The Divisional Police Officer, Ifako, also came to the hospital to allay the fears of residents, who narrated their ordeal to him. The robbers were deployed in different areas and used different methods to rob their victims.
LASTMA official shot
It was learnt that at Anthony, another armed robbery gang who operated on a motorcycle, shot a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority official identified simply as Sosan.
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