Police foil bank robbery, smash 9-man gang in Calabar

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The Cross River state police Command on Saturday foiled a bank robbery while smashing a 9-man armed robbery gang terrorising residents of some areas in Calabar, the state capital.

Newsmen gathered the suspected bank robbery syndicate has been carrying out their nefarious operations around EPZ, Harbor road, Ikot Ansa as well as Esuk Utan.

A security source who didn’t want his name in Print told Sunday Vanguard that the suspects infiltrated an old-generation bank ( name withheld) with the intent of carrying out a robbery.

“Based on credible intelligence the Suppl in charge of EPZ ( Export Processing Zone) mobilized a tactical team and stormed the bank apprehending four out of the nine suspects.

“They include Joshua Samuel 22 Innocent Edom 20, Samuel Okon, 28, and Mohammed Salisu 29, these were the ones who were carrying out espionage ( surveillance) for the remaining five armed men outside waiting to strike.

“During the preliminary inquiry, the suspects confessed to having been on an espionage mission with the intent to alert other gang members on when to strike and rob the bank.

“We are definitely going to get the remaining members of the group because they have been terrorising residents of the metropolis, especially Ikot Ansa and Esuk Mba communities all in Calabar Municipality LGA of Cross River state.

Confirming the incident to a reporter on the telephone, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sule Balarabe
said, “yes, we have them in our custody and we will go even deeper till we get others who are involved, we are leaving no stone unturned”.