The FCT Police Command has provided details on how they, along with the Nigerian military, successfully thwarted a dangerous bank robbery in the Abaji area of Abuja.

According to a statement from the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the security forces engaged in a fierce gun battle with the armed robbers, resulting in casualties.

The incident occurred at the First Bank PLC in Abaji on June 13, 2024, at approximately 5:00 PM. Led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth C. Igweh, the FCT police and the military swiftly responded to the scene and repelled the attack, which targeted both the Abaji Divisional Police headquarters and the First Bank PLC.

The armed robbers, numbering fifteen, attempted to rob the bank using dynamites. However, the security forces successfully engaged them in a gun duel, causing the robbers to flee with gunshot wounds.

Three suspects were apprehended, including the reported gang leader, while an unidentified suspect was neutralized by the security forces and subsequently set ablaze by an angry mob. Unfortunately, one police operative and the gang leader succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the hospital.

The remaining injured suspects are currently receiving medical treatment. The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth C. Igweh, commended the effectiveness of the joint operation and reiterated the command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of FCT residents, emphasizing that the security of the FCT is non-negotiable.