By Patrick Ochei
It was a Black Tuesday in Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, as daredevil armed robbers unleashed terror in the town during almost an hour robbery operation.
From eye witness account, the robbers had stationed their gang members at strategic positions in the town, while other of their members robbed the bank unhindered.
It was gathered that customers were held hostage inside the bank for almost an hour, while other gang members outside were raining bullets at random.
In the process of the shooting spree, a trader, identified as an indigene of Issele-Uku from Ogbeofu village was shot dead while many others sustained bullet wounds.
When our correspondent contacted the acting PPRO, DSP Bright Edafe of Delta State Police Command on hearing of the operation, he confirmed it and gave assurance that he was in contact with the Division for quick response.
However, unfortunately, throughout the almost one-hour operation, the DPO and officers from Issele-Uku Division were nowhere to be found. It was even gathered that the armed robbers had earlier gone to the police station looking for the DPO but he had fled the scene alongside his men.
Meanwhile, some of the eyewitnesses spoken to queried the usefulness of the “Operation Delta Hawk”, confirming that calls were put through to them but they never responded until the robbery operation was successfully carried out.
It could be recalled that about three years ago, the same bank was also robbed, people were equally injured and millions carted away.
As at the time of filing this report, a security man at the security post and one other person were later found dead inside the bank premises.
Also, the number of those that sustained gunshot injuries, including the amount of money that was stolen in the process were yet to be ascertained.
