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Tag: Bullion Van

  • Gunmen attack bullion van, kill policeman, two others in Delta

    Gunmen attack bullion van, kill policeman, two others in Delta

    There was tragedy on Tuesday evening as gunmen attacked a bullion van, killing a police officer and two women at Ubulu-Okiti, along the Benin-Asaba expressway, Aniocha South local government area of Delta State.

    Meanwhile, the Dela State Police Command has confirmed that it lost an officer during the bullion van attack at Ubulu-Okiti along the Benin/Asaba/Onitsha expressway, Aniocha North Local Government Area, Delta State which occurred on Tuesday.

    Confirming the death of its officer on Wednesday night in a statement, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in the State, Mr Bright Edafe said the gunmen stormed out of the bush and opened fire, shooting sporadically.

    Edafe explained that three officers sustained injury during the exchange of fire with the armed robbers, adding that the injured officers were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Asaba where one of them was confirmed dead.

    According to him, two of the suspects sustained severe gunshot injuries but were taken away by the hang, saying that the policemen were on UBA Escort from Agbor to Asaba, when they were ambushed by the gunmen at Ubulu-Okiti.

    The Police spokesman, said: “In the ensued gun duel, three policemen were injured and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, but AP/No. 199518 Inspector Ogar Sunday was certified dead by the doctor on duty while the remaining two were treated and discharged.

    “Two of the bandits were fatally injured but were taken away by their gang members.

    Unspecified amount of money was reportedly carted away. “However, the incident is under investigation to unravel those behind the dastardly act and to ascertain the amount that was carted away,” saying that manhunt has been intensified with a view to apprehending the fleeing suspects.

  • VIDEO: Gunmen attack bullion van in Lagos, loot millions

    VIDEO: Gunmen attack bullion van in Lagos, loot millions

    Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers reportedly attacked a bullion van in Ajah area of Lagos and made away with millions of naira.

    The incident was said to have occurred at Ado road in Ajah. There was sporadic shooting as the robbers broke open the bullion van and carted away millions of naira.

    The robbers reportedly rained bullets on the bullion van and shot the lock opened before carting away the money.

    The attack lasted for several minutes until the robbers accomplished their mission and left.

    Unconfirmed source said one person was killed in the attack.

    Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 3.00pm on Thursday.

    The gunmen were said to be five in number.

    A video of the scene showed the robbers shooting sporadically, leaving a man dead on the road.

    The bullion van was attacked at the premises of Blenco Supermarket at Ado Road, Ajah.

    The gunmen were said to have also attacked a water tanker, forcing the driver and motor-boy to scamper for safety.

  • Alleged money laundering: Over 7,000 Nigerians sign petition, demand EFCC investigate Tinubu’s bullion van saga

    Alleged money laundering: Over 7,000 Nigerians sign petition, demand EFCC investigate Tinubu’s bullion van saga

    Over ten thousand Nigerians have signed a petition calling for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, by having bullion vans ferry alleged large sums of money into his house on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election.

    The petition which was opened on change.org by Reno Omokri, a former aide of President Goodluck Jonathan has attracted over 7,360 signatures as at the time TheNewsGuru (TNG) filed this report.

    The brief of the petition reads: “Dear citizens of Nigeria, Let’s take our country back by signing this petition to compel the EFCC to investigate and prosecute Bola Tinubu for contravening the Money Laundering Act, by ferrying bullion vans into his house.

    “Don’t say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’. We as Nigerians must stop confusing cynicism for wisdom. If we do not fight for our country, who will? George Floyd’s death sparked a revolution in America and we joined.

    “We did not say ‘na today’, or ‘leave matter’. You and I can make a difference with this petition.#EFCCMustInvestigateTinubu”

    Recall EFCC had received a similar petition asking it to investigate Tinubu, on the aforesaid money laundering allegation.

    In October 2019, the foremost petition against Tinubu on the ‘bullion van’ saga was written by Concerned Nigerians. The petition was submitted and acknowledged at the reception desk of the Executive Chairman’s office.

    In the wake of criticism that trailed the issue at the said time, the ousted Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, had earlier assured Nigerians the Commission would investigate Tinubu anytime it receives a petition to do so but he (Magu) never attended to the case after receiving the petition raised by Concerned Nigerians.

  • Army disowns ‘soldiers’ arrested in bullion van robbery

    Army disowns ‘soldiers’ arrested in bullion van robbery

    The Army has said that suspected soldiers held in connection with a bullion van robbery in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State are not their men.

    Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in 82 Division, said this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday in Enugu.

    Yusuf said the two men are not serving in any Army unit, command, formation or division.

    “The attention of Headquarters 82 Division, Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publication on the unfortunate bullion van robbery incident at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on July 29 which led to the arrest of two suspected dismissed soldiers and other gangsters involved in the act.

    “It is necessary to inform the public that the so-called soldiers in the report are not personnel of the Nigerian Army since 2015 and 2018 when both Corporal Ayeni Samuel and Corporal Emeka Harrison were dismissed.

    Yusuf said Corporal Samuel was dismissed in 2018 for desertion and pipeline vandalism at 174 Battalion, while Corporal Harrison was tried and dismissed from 7 Division Garrison, Maiduguri in 2015.

  • ‘Bring your petition on Tinubu’s bullion van saga…’ EFCC tells activist

    Social media activist, Segun Awosanya, otherwise known as Segalink, has clashed with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the failure of the anti-graft body to go after All Progressives Congress stalwart, Bola Tinubu, despite picture evidence of bullion vans laden with cash allegedly at Tinubu’s Bourdillon, Ikoyi home.

    Trouble started when the EFCC posted a tweet stating that it was empowered by law to investigate anyone who appeared to be living above his means.

    The EFCC tweeted, “Section 7(1) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004 gives us the power to investigate properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

    The commission sent out the tweet amid criticism that it was raiding clubs and persecuting youths driving flashy cars.

    In his response, however, Segalink tweeted, “I’m sure this section only gives you an erection when it concerns Yahoo Boys and opposition politicians. While the miraculous self aggrandisers in bed with those the head of the EFCC worships are immune to investigation.

    “Daylight bullion van exhibition of Bourdillon is justified right?”

    The anti-graft agency, however, defended its record, insisting that it had secured convictions of former governors and other politically exposed persons

    It added, “Not to toe the line of politics as you may wish but the EFCC has successfully investigated, prosecuted and secured over 1, 245 convictions between 2015 and 2019 which included two former governors, several top government functionaries both in the past and present dispensations. Applaud us.”

    An adamant Segalink, however, posted the picture of bullion vans entering Tinubu’s home on the eve of the 2019 Presidential election.

    The activist, who spearheaded the #EndSARS movement, said the EFCC should take action on the bullion van incident before it would be respected by Nigerians.

    He tweeted, “Let me splash some colours on this to make it simpler to comprehend. Your tweet claims that all the EFCC requires to hunt down citizens is the display of wealth that can’t be justified. What justified the relocation of CBN to Asiwaju’s house on Bourdillon on the eve of election?”

    The EFCC, however, asked Segalink to forward a petition to any of its offices on the matter.

    “Kindly forward your petitions to Info@EFCCNigeria.org or visit any of our zonal offices or head office to submit a copy of your petition,” the EFCC said.

  • Panic as robbers hijack bullion van in Delta, cart away millions

    There was pandemonium on Friday in parts of Asaba, the Delta State capital after armed bandits attacked a bullion van and made away with millions of naira.

    According to a report by The Nation, the bullion van belongs to a first generation bank in Anambra State. Sounds of gunshots echoed during the operation forcing motorists and passers-by to scamper for safety. The development which made motorists to abandon vehicles in the middle of the Benin-Asaba dual carriageway resulted in traffic gridlock.

    It was learnt that the policemen escorting the bullion van engaged the robbers in a shootout, but were overpowered by the superior firepower of the robbers.

    An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said the siren blaring bullion van was ambushed by a gang of robbers in a convoy of three vehicles which included a grey Sienna van.

    “The police escorts numbering eight subsequently fled the scene of the incident,” the eyewitness said. Another eyewitness said: “The hoodlums came in about three cars and intercepted the bullion van at the junction. They started shooting and innocent people took to their heels to avoid being victims of stray bullets.

    “Even vehicles on the expressway were making detour as a result of the attack. The officers attached to the van responded but I think the hoodlums had superior firearms because the officers soon disappeared, giving the bandits an unfettered access to the cash stocked in the bullion van.”

    Spokesperson of the, Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident said “internal connivance” cannot be ruled out, lamenting that some commercial banks were still in the habit of conveying money without using bullet-proof vans despite repeated warnings by the police command.

    He said the van was coming from Onitsha and heading towards Agbor, adding that the bullion van had made stops at Awka, and Onitsha in Anambra State. His words: “I suspect internal connivance. This is in spite of the warning issued by the state command for commercial banks to convey money following approved guidelines.

    The bullion van is not bulletproof. It is a configured bullion van” Continuing, he said: “Who informed the hoodlums that they were carrying cash through that route? It is quite unfortunate that banks are still using configured bullion vans without bulletproof, subjecting their personnel and escort officers to unnecessary risk.

    “As we speak now, investigation is on, but I cannot tell you how much cash the bullion van was carrying before the attack. What I can assure is that the command will put necessary measures in place to bring whoever was involved directly or indirectly to justice.” Aniamaka also confirmed that no life was lost and no injury was sustained during the shootout.

  • Amosun escapes death as CBN bullion van rams into convoy

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Thursday escaped death in an auto accident at the Ibafo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    The governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Juwon Soyinka, said in a statement that the incident happened when a bullion van belonging to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ran into Amosun’s convoy in the area.

    He said: “The incident which occurred around Ibafo while the governor was travelling to Lagos for an official assignment, resulted in damage to the escort vehicles in the governor’s convoy.

    “The CBN convoy drivers, driving dangerously, attempted to overtake the governor’s convoy without regard for the safety of other road users.

    “On sensing danger, the governor’s escort commander used a public address system mounted on his vehicle to warn the CBN convoy drivers to desist from such reckless driving.

    “Not only was the governor’s escort commander ignored, the CBN convoy drivers went ahead to crush his vehicle and subsequently went after other vehicles in the governor’s convoy, including his official car.

    ” The CBN convoy was later brought to a halt by the security team attached to the governor,” Soyinka said.

    Amosun, according to Soyinka, described the manner of driving of the drivers in the CBN convoy as reckless.

    “We will not allow such senseless and reckless behaviour in Ogun State,” Soyinka quoted Amosun as saying.

    Soyinka also said: “ If this could happen to a governor within his territory, you can imagine what they would do to our citizens who are simply going about their legitimate business.

    “Governor Amosun, who expressed disappointment at the reckless manner in which the CBN bullion van convoy moved on the road, warned that such act of impunity will no longer be tolerated within the borders of Ogun.’’

    He explained that the governor had cause to personally caution reckless CBN convoy drivers in the state on a number of occasions.

    “On several occasions, the Ogun State governor had to personally turn back reckless CBN bullion van drivers who often drive against traffic with impunity on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway,” he said.

     

     

     

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