Police Commence Forensic Analysis, Vow to Track FESTAC Robbers

Acting Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase 

Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, Mr. Bala Hassan has vowed that the police will bring FESTAC Town robbers to book. He is optimistic that the forensic analysis gathered from the scene of robbery will assist the police fish out the perpetrators of the robbery.


Hassan revealed this when he visited the robbery scene Thursday. He spoke to news men that a forensic laboratory was recently opened for such investigations, giving his words that the perpetrators must be arrested and made to face the law.

He also said that finger prints taken from the scene of robbery by the Nigerian Police will be analysed in the country which will be used in fishing out the robbers.

It will be recalled that armed robbers numbering about 40 hijacked two banks on 4th Avenue in Festac Town and robbed them of unspecified amount of money, which left a mother and her child dead after a stray bullet from the robbers killed hit them.

“An office had just been opened at the order of the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Solomon Arase for forensic reports and analysis. “We are not sending any of the finger prints and all other sundry investigations overseas for analysis; we are going to conduct them here. “We are coming out with the results soon and we promise to bring the perpetrators to book,’’ he said.

Hassan called on members of public to always assist the Police with useful information that will help them catch criminal elements in the society. He tasked all to be vigilant and security conscious. “We implore members of the public to help the police, I am sure the people that carried out this plan would have planned it somewhere.

“It could have been in a drinking joint. If someone had call on the Commissioner of Police that some people are planning a suspicious act somewhere, they would have been rounded off and arrested. “We are in the ember wants, and as people want to celebrate Christmas, many want to enjoy the Christmas through unlawful means,’’ he said.

The AIG bemoaned the fact that the Marine Police could not access the carnal the robbers used as escape route because of its location.

“The marine police could not have done anything with the place the carnal was located, there is a small a market there. “We would have ended up with a lot of casualties from the bank and the neighbouring community if we had engaged the robbers. “They are not uniformed men, they were dressed in different uniforms to create an atmosphere of intimidation to carry out their evil act,’’ he said.

He called on the public to go about their normal duties as the police are working round the clock to bring the criminals to justice.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, identified some of the challenges the police faced.

He noted that the robbers use the creeks to escape knowing fully well that innocent citizens also reside in the area which made it difficult for the police to operate in such environment. “This is part of our challenges that Nigerians do not know. This carnal is close to a market. “Because of the way the robbers were dressed, the people could not recognize them early enough; they thought they were task-force officials. “We take what is left back to restrategise and ensure that places that are vulnerable are well protected in Ogun and Lagos states,’’ he said.

Owoseni said that Access Bank was set to commence operations again while Diamond Bank was still repairing some damaged properties.

Also contributing on the matter, Mr. Dipo Olorunrinumi, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Amuwo-Odofin Constituency, said that the community would help the police with necessary information to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He added that the community had commenced the blockage of vulnerable places to ensure that the incident would not happen again.

“We have commenced the blockage of some places the community feels the robbers could use to have access into the community to avert such incidents. “We will ensure that all necessary information that can help the police to arrest the robbers will be given,’’ He said.

Olorunrinumi said they've visited the family of the woman that lost her life and that of her daughter and that the community will assist the family in any way possible.