Early yesterday morning, armed robbers who were up to 12 attacked a bank at the university town of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of  Bayelsa State and stole some Automated Teller Machines at the location. The robbers who were armed with sophisticated weapons and dynamites escaped through the waterways.

Sources from the community said:
“The armed men threw 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,”an eye witness said.
“They therefore blew up the walls holding the ATM machines and made away with them.” “We are now under threat from thieves, rapists and robbers. Painfully, this is the town where the Niger Delta University is situated, thereby exposing students to more danger,”.“Overtime, students have constantly faced attacks from robbers.”

However, the spokesman for the Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed that the bank was attacked with dynamites but denied that they stole ATM machines.”

He said:

“On 12 March, 2016, at about 0035hrs, unknown gunmen in three speedboats invaded Amassoma Police Division.
“Shortly afterwards, the hoodlums attacked a bank, damaged  the ATM machines and attempted to enter the bank, but were repelled by a reinforced unit of policemen.
“No life was lost and money was not stolen. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing.”


Vanguard