Police arrest mastermind behind Abuja robbery
A man identified as Ernest has been arrested by the police in connection with the foiled robbery attack Mbape branch of the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN).
Ernest is being fingered as the mastermind of the attack, which left one of the robbers dead and ended in the arrest of three others, including an FBN staff member.
The arrest has since been confirmed by Anjuri Manzah, spokesman of the federal capital territory (FCT) police command.
Politicsnigeria learned from a reliable source that the suspect is currently being interrogated at the command’s headquarters.
It should be recalled that one of the suspects identified as Elijah David claimed Larry Ehizo, a customer service officer of the bank, fed the gang Intel for their operation.
According to the David, Ehizo told the gang they could cart away as much as N7 million from the failed heist.
“Ehizo told us that the job could fetch about N7m. After we entered the bank, we saw a riot policeman on duty but sleeping, so Obinna pointed a pistol at him and we tied him with an old sponge,” he said.
“Mr Larry told us that he would keep the other door open for us. So, Larry and Obinna later went upstairs with a pair of pliers to disconnect the CCTV.”
Larry, however, claimed gang leader threatened to kill his family if he refuses to aid them.
Read his full account below:
I met a friend (Ernest) in November and we had a discussion where we used to hang out and I said something after he complained about our services in the bank and we almost got into a serious argument and I told him that the only thing he would do is get angry and maybe not bank again with us. He said he was going to hurt someone and I told him not to do that. That the highest he can do is to do that or maybe rob the bank to make them feel bad.
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I did not know he had that on record and he used that to threaten that after some time that I must take the people that he would bring into the bank. He threatened my family, myself and even the people around me. Even my girlfriend. After that, I was afraid to go to the police because he said even if I go to the police that he had already informed his colleagues and because he is a cultist and he said that anything I get after that I should take it.
That is when he brought them. I still begged him and he went as far as my family house and threatened to kill them. He now brought them on that day that I should take them in and tell them what to do.
He even followed to the bank but escaped when they caught them. He insisted I take my car to take them inside the place and that was the only thing I was supposed to do and leave the rest for them to do. The person is at large. His name is Ernest.
I didn’t report to the police because of the threat. He actually brought his fellow cultists to my house and threatened me and my girlfriend that I must take them. He said he was going to give them N7 million. He said I was going to get 20 percent and I told him I did not want anything.
He said I must collect it. I am a Customer Service Officer. I have been with the bank for over two years. If I had gone to the police I would not have been here talking now. Members of my family also would not be. He knows my family house and knows where I stay personally at Mpape.
He waited to see when we entered inside and he immediately called me and I did everything out of fear of not dying and not having anyone dying because of me. Ernest is a customer at the bank. He comes around. There is a place I go to hang out in Mpape. He is a barman there. He sells drinks.
On normal situations, we have sat down to have drinks. We discussed football, family and how to move forward. He is a barman”.
