Like a scene in an action thriller, gunmen suspected to be militants launched attacks on a police station and a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Amasoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
Amasoma is the community of the late former governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and a host to the state-owned university, the Niger Delta University (NDU).
It was gathered that the gang of militants stormed the community through the waterways at about 1am on Friday.
Shortly after arriving on a speedboat, they were said to have moved straight to the police station located in the area and engaged the policemen in a gun duel.
The bandits who reportedly overpowered the policemen, carted away arms and ammunition from the police station.
The rampaging armed robbers later visited the UBA branch with rage shooting sporadically and creating panic among residents.
It was gathered that the militants threw dynamites and other explosives at the bank to create access to the banking hall.
After blowing off the fence of the bank, the hoodlums were said to have tried in vain to enter the bank.
A source who spoke in confidence said: “A group of armed militants with heavy guns stormed amassoma community. They militants came in through the waterways but the police were unable to stop them.
“The militants group found their way to the United Bank of Africa (UBA) where they shoot sporadically chasing away everyone including the security guards.
“They threw bombs and dynamites at the walls of the bank, bringing down its fences. They gained access to the bank premises but were unable to get in after much attempt”.
It was gathered that the militants later attacked the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), dismantled and carted it away.
Though no life had been confirmed lost in the incident, some persons were said to have been injured.
“The source added: “This is not the first time such robbery is taking place in a bank at amassoma. It could be recalled sometime ago that suspected militants group raided the bank carting away millions of naira and leaving behind dead victims.”
A senior bank official who spoke in confidence confirmed the attack and said the ATM was carted away by the hoodlums.
He, however, said the UBA management had sent a team to take inventory of the damaged property and determine the amount of money lost to the incident.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said he was waiting for the details of the attack.
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