CCTV Captures Bank Staff Stealing Money During Ekiti Robbery

Bank officials were allegedly caught on CCTV footage stealing money during a bank robbery that took place in the Oye town of Ekiti State on Thursday.

The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Asuquo Amba, said the police took note of “suspicious” activities from CCTV footage that gave an indication that some officials of the bank either connived with the robbers or took advantage of the incident to steal money.

Amba, on Friday, said some bankers and a customer moved frequently into the bank vault stuffed money into their pockets before the robbers gained access into the bank.

THE WHISTLER reported how the robbers were said to have blown up the entrance of the bank after blasting the entrance door with explosives.

The robbers were said to have carted away over N25 million and some foreign currencies, while killing a police sergeant and a 7-year-old girl.

The police commissioner said there was a similarity between the Thursday attack and a previous robbery attack recorded in the Ise Ekiti area some months back.

“What baffles me is that there was nexus between the robbers and insiders in the banking premises. The Oye Police Division is about one or two poles from here. It was the first point of attack. The bankers confirmed that they heard the shots and it took about 10 minutes before the robbers arrived at the bank from there.

“Within the period, there were some activities that went on inside the bank. It is either there was strict connivance, or that the bank officials took advantage to carry out their own intention which an investigation would prove.

“Between the time the robbers attacked our men and the time the robbery took place, the staff had enough time to escape through the exit door. They were captured by CCTV moving in and out of the vault. The vault was even opened before the robbers came.

“Despite the opportunity, none of them made efforts to escape, they were stuffing money and there was evidence to prove this.

“The staff opened the vault by 3.05pm and the robbers blew up the security door at 3.12pm, this gave a strong suspicion that there was internal collaboration in this matter.

“What we have seen is that there is a missing chain in the link. It is that missing chain that we are working out. And I can assure you that we will mend the missing chain to get the result of our investigation.

“The Divisional Police Officer was quite lucky because I went to his office, his seat was pierced. There was consistent firing. They went to almost all the offices and they attempted to get to the armoury, they were not able to break through,” he said.

Amba told reporters that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had ordered a thorough investigation into the robbery.

“The IGP has directed that there must be a very thorough investigation and that this mode of operation must be brought to fore,” he said.