‘I will face robbers again,’ shot policeman vows

… RRS operatives rescued after ghastly accident

A police Inspector simply identified as Gabriel, attached to the Police Mobile Squadron 22, who was a victim of an armed robbery operation at the weekend recounted his experience at the hospital bed of Lagos State General Hospital, Marina.

Giving details of the attack carried out by a six-man robbery gang at Amukoko area of Lagos, Gabriel, who was shot twice on his leg, said: “It was about 9:30a.m. on Thursday and we were inside the bank premises at the Coker branch doing our job. Suddenly, we heard people shouting that armed robbers were coming and we came out with our rifles and took cover, waiting for the armed robbers.

“When they got to the front of the bank, they opened fire and we retaliated. Then I took cover under the vehicle. It was there the bullet hit my right leg and hand. Immediately the bullet hit me, I felt weak as I was bleeding.

“I called my colleagues to help me and I was taken to the Mainland General Hospital. At the hospital, the chief security officer of the bank came to see me. The bank has promised to take care of my hospital bills.”

Despite the gunshot wounds, Gabriel commended the police for arresting three of the six-man gang, adding that he is not deterred. “I am not deterred. I have signed for this police work. I will still face robbers again if the opportunity arises,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, Fatai Owoseni, had in the company of his deputy, Fimihan Adeoye, and the state Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, visited the injured inspector at the weekend in the hospital.

After speaking to the inspector, Owoseni took out time to speak with the medical personnel on duty to ensure that adequate medical care is dispensed to the policeman.

In another development, four operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command yesterday morning sustained serious injuries when an over-speeding KIA RIO belonging to a hired car operator rammed into their vehicle near Ogudu Bus Stop.

The RRS men were on duty point patrolling along the Ogudu-Alapere axis, when the accident occurred around 12:06a.m. on Sunday.

According to intelligence gathered at the scene of the accident, RRS officials were driving when a KIA Rio with lone occupant on a high speed rammed into them from behind.

An eyewitness, who was at the scene of the incident, later conveyed the injured to Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja for treatment.

Four officers of the RRS were seriously injured including the driver of the car in the accident. As at the time of writing this report, three of the RRS operatives had been discharged from the hospital, while one along with the driver of the speeding vehicle, is expected to be discharged later today.