Armed Robbers Raid Punch Newspaper’s Worker Residence in Lagos

Aug 22, 2011 – Armed Robbers Raid Punch Newspaper’s Worker Residence in Lagos

By Chris Ochayi LAGOS — A Chief Correspondent with The Punch newspapers, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei has lost a car and property to robbers who invaded his residence along the Iyana Meran axis of the Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos.

The heavily armed robbers, numbering about 12, who arrived the residence by 1 a m succeeded in escaping with a Metallic Grey Nissan Exterra Jeep, with number plate Lagos TQ 241 AAA, belonging to the wife of the journalist, Mrs. Justina Soriwei

Mrs. Soriwei, who was in the house when the robbers arrived, said about 12 heavily armed men were involved in the operation which lasted about 45 minutes.

She said two of the robbers gained entry into the residence by cutting one of the burglary proofs in the parlour after which they opened the door leading to the kitchen for five gun-wielding robbers to move into the sitting room.

She said the robbers repeatedly asked for her husband who they thought was hiding somewhere in the house.

Although, nobody was shot in the operation, the robbers shoved the heavily pregnant woman to the wall as they made repeated demands for money, jewellery, and other items

The journalist who works at the Abuja Bureau of The PUNCH was not around when the incident occurred.

The hoodlums raided three out of the four flats in the building and escaped before the arrival of the police.

She said that she later realised at the Police Station that the robbers left her residence and headed for Oyetoro Street where they shot somebody on the two legs during the operation.

She also said that the robbers took away some money from her, HP laptop, jewelleries, LCD, 42 inches television, and others.

Chances of early recovery of the stolen jeep were dashed as the police who were said to have sighted the car around 1.30 AM could not engage the robbers who were more in number and had automatic equipment.

She said that the matter had been reported to the Meiran Divisional Police Station.

When the journalist contacted the Police Public Relations in charge of the Lagos State police Command, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, he said that the police would work on the recovery of the car.