Uromi Bank Robbery: Police Recover N34.5m, Four Cars Abandoned By Robbers


By Osahon Osahon

Cash totaling N34,510,000 believed to have been abandoned by the armed robbers who attacked four banks simultaneously in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, have been recovered by operatives of the state police command.

Also recovered by the police are four motor cars, two motorcycles, two small bags containing women items and one Union Bank ATM card.

Recall that the robbers launched a simultaneous attack on the Uromi police division, four banks in the community on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

The affected banks are Zenith Bank, First Bank, Unity Bank and the United Bank for Africa, UBA, all located at Market Road, in Uromi.

Seven persons, including two police operatives and five civilians were killed during the robbery operation which took place on Thursday, 24 February, 2022.

Recovery of the items was announced late Friday night, in statement made available on Edo Police Command WhatsApp platform by its spokesman, SP Kontongs Bello, disclosed that the items were abandoned in Oruen Quaters Bush of Ubiaja in Esan south East Local Government Area of the State.

The statement reads: “Operatives of the Edo State Police Command in conjunction with local Vigilantes, accompanied by Chief John Odijie, the Oniha of Ubiaja, led by the DPO Ubiaja acting on credible information that some vehicles suspected to have been used by armed Robbers in Uromi Bank Robbery Operations on the 24/02 /2022 were seen hidden in Oruen Quarters Bush of Ubiaja in Esan south East Local Government Area of Edo State.                       

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“On receipt of the information the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ubiaja mobilized his  men who during the bank robbery operations blocked all the exit routes from in and out of Uromi town, together with the team immediately mobilize to the location and recovered the following vehicles and items:

“One Red Colour Camry car with Reg.No. EZA 105 KJA, One ash Colour Camry Car with Reg. No. KWL 19 DU, One Dark Ash colour corolla car with Reg. No. UBJ 734 SZ, One Lexus 330 car with Reg. No. AAA 973 FL, One Red Q. Link M/CYCLE With Reg. No. EZA 105 QN, One Red Day Long M/Cycle With Reg. No. ENU 204 QL, Two small bags containing women Items, one Union Bank ATM card and Cash Sum Thirty four million, five hundred and ten thausan Naira only (#34,510,000.00).”

Bello gave assurances of the State Commissioner of Police, Philip Aliyu Ogbadu’s sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident, even as he promised not to relent until all those behind the attack are bought to face the full wrath of the law.

A resident of Ubiaja who did not wish to be named in print had hinted that brave youths blocked all entries to the community, thereby forcing the robbers to abandon some of their loots.

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“Thankfully our Ubiaja youths were able to block Ubiaja Road by the rail line, which forced the robbers to abandon their cash-ladden vehicles off the rail line and flee in motorcycles. The vehicles and cash have been recovered and counting still ongoing at the Ubiaja police station. An arrest has also been made. God will reveal all the perpetrators. The blood of the innocent will hunt them down,” the source added.

Meanwhile, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, led other top government functionaries for on-the-spot assessment of the scene of the robbery incident in Uromi.

Obaseki who was represented by his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, was accompanied by heads of security agencies and was taken on the assessment of the affected banks by the Area Commander of Uromi Police Headquarters, Tarzan Tsav.

He appealed to the people of Uromi to go about their normal businesses as the state government has beefed up security and surveillance to ensure peace is restored in the area.

According to him, “This attack is a well-organised crime. We have heard from the people and have increased surveillance in the area. We are here on behalf of the governor to find out what happened and know the extent of the damage. We are here on a fact-finding mission and have interacted with bank officials, eye witnesses, traders and people living in the area and seen the level of destruction and damage done.

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“I am here with all the security chiefs and have seen the damage and beefed up security in the area. I urge all living in the area to go about their normal businesses.”

“We reassure our people of improved security in the area and guarantee their safety. In the next week, people of this area will see government action on the matter,” he reassured.

The entourage also visited the palace of the Ojuromi of Uromi, HRH Anslem Odaloighe Eidenojie Il.

Addressing the traditional ruler, the Governor noted, “We have come to see the level of damage and assure you that the state government has increased surveillance and safety of the people of Uromi.

“By the grace of God, these people will be arrested and brought to book. The people should go about their normal businesses.”

On his part, HRH Anslem Odaloighe Eidenojie II, said, “The situation was like a war zone and it lasted for over two hours and the robbers took control of the area and killed my subjects.”

The entourage also visited the Nigeria Police Force, Uromi Command, which was also attacked by the robbers to demobilize the officers before the robbery.

They also visited the hospital where the injured victims were being treated.


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