There was pandemonium in Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) on Friday, March 6, 2015 when a group of armed robbers attacked a bullion van and allegedly absconded with two Ghana-must-go bags containing an unspecified amount of cash.
Eyewitnesses said the robbers had followed the bullion van to one of the banks at the RSUST campus and attacked it immediately the cash was being offloaded.
The robbers started shooting sporadically to scare people immediately after they got the money and escaped through the back gate of the institution.
A crowd of people who were at the entrance of the bank where the bullion van was parked scampered away for safety in the midst of the gun shots.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, “The armed robbers were fearless. They entered RSUST, went straight to the bullion van and opened fire. One person was killed instantly while five persons that were injured were rushed to the hospital.
“It is shocking that armed robbers can operate successfully inside the campus and go scot-free. What we are talking about happened around 3:30pm. They came in through the main gate and left through the back gate of the university. The bank locked their customers inside during the attack.”
It was further gathered that policemen stopped the robbers outside the university premises. They robbers engaged in a fierce gun battle with the police as they drove through Iloabuchi and Nsukka street in Mile One area of Port Harcourt while trying to escape.
Confirming the robbery attack, the University Spokesman, Mr. Desmond Wosu, said that the armed robbers killed one person and injured five during their operation inside the university.
Wosu said: “We are yet to truly identify victims if they are students of the University or not but we have admitted them in our sick bay for first aid treatment before transferring them other hospitals for specialized attention.”
Also, Ahmad Mohammad, the Rivers Command Public Relations Officer who spoke on the incident stated that the undisclosed amount of cash belonged to a bank customer.
Mohammed said: “Sensing policemen were getting close to them, they (robbers) jettisoned the operation and abandoned their operational vehicle, including an unspecified amount of money in locked bags.
“They escaped after robbing a vehicle from a motorist.
“Items recovered from the foiled armed robbery include: their operational vehicle, a golden colour Toyota Highlander, one Barretta pistol, one scorpion rifle, 11 AK-47 magazines, 63 assorted live ammunition, two objects suspected to be a dynamite, a charm and different vehicle number plates.
“A close examination at their vehicle indicated that the armed robbers sustained gunshot wounds as it was soaked with blood. One person lost his life.
“The command is appealing to the public to report anybody seeing with wounds suspected to being gunshot injury to report to the nearest police station.”
