Robbers Rob Two Banks, Hold FESTAC Residents Hostage

For over two hours, some dare-devil armed robbers held residents of FESTAC Town, Lagos, hostage as they robbed two banks at 4th Avenue.

The robbers had accessed FESTAC Town through 4th Avenue and stormed Access and Diamond Banks on that axis and successfully robbed them without any hitches.

Even with the gun duel with the police, which residents said lasted for two hours, the robbers undauntingly carried out their operations and escaped again through the waterways.

A resident who identified himself as Lawrence said what alerted them was the sporadic and heavy gunshots released by the armed robbers.

He said, "I was about to go to work and was about to access the road that leads to 4th Avenue when the sound of gunshot stopped me and several others.

"We simply parked in one of the streets to wait them out. Meanwhile, some of us had called the police by then. What we thought would last a few minutes dragged to two hours.

"FESTAC sounded like a war zone whilst the robbery lasted. It was later we learnt that they robbed both Diamond and Access banks."
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, adding that they are on top of the situation.