The Abia State Police Command has urged members of the public to disregard any rumour of robbery on an old generation commercial bank in Umuahia, the state capital.
The clarification came following rumours being circulated in the media that a bank was being robbed on Thursday.
The state Police image maker, Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, who made the clarification in a statement, described it as false.
He explained that the armed robbers had targeted bank customers who went to the bank to withdraw huge sums of money but her officers foiled their attempt.
He stated that the incident occurred on Library Avenue, popularly called Bank road.
He noted that the three-man armed robbery gang operating with a red-coloured Toyota Corolla car was intercepted by the eagle-eyed bank patrol team of policemen within the metropolis at Hoeffers Eatery by Factory Road, Umuahia, while lying in wait for perceived targets.
He added that on sighting the patrol team, the hoodlums shot sporadically to make way for escape and eventually abandoned their operational vehicle and snatched another car to flee the scene, which led to exchange of gunshots between the police and suspected robbers.
The statement read, “Sadly, during the shoot out, stray bullets hit two persons within the scene and one of the police patrol team members.
“Investigation has commenced with efforts emplaced to track down the fleeing hoodlums as well as ensuring adequate security of customers from the banks.
“Members of the public are enjoined to disregard the rumours making the rounds that one of the old generation commercial banks was attacked in Umuahia during the incident.
“Victims were immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, while the operational vehicle with registration number LND 126 HL and one AK 47 rifle with three magazines and a machete were recovered.
“The public should be security conscious while boarding vehicles after leaving the banks and those with their own vehicles should make judicious use of their vehicle mirrors when driving out of the bank premises so as to know when they are being trailed.”
