Robbers attack house, hold occupants hostage

Some occupants of a house  on Oreofero Street in the Bariga area of Lagos State were on Saturday held hostage by a group of armed robbers who attacked them.

The robbers, suspected to be cultists and numbering about 15, were said to have stormed the area about 4.30am.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the occupants, who were tenants in the building, were attacked by the robbers who gained access into the house with a ladder.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Mr. Kunle Oloyede, said he nearly ran into the robbers as he wanted to do ablution for morning prayer.

He said, “I came out from my shop where I had spent the night to make ablution before saying my morning prayer.

“I heard screams coming from the building. Within 10 minutes, I saw a group of armed robbers running from the house towards my direction.”

Oloyede said he ran back into his shop for safety. From his hiding place, he heard the robbers blaming one another for allowing him to escape.

PUNCH Metro gathered that some occupants of the building were beaten up, while others were attacked with matchetes. It was said that the robbers went from room to room, demanding for money, phones and other valuables.

About N150,000, four laptops, an iphone and a BlackBerry were said to have been carted away by the robbers.

A vehicle belonging to one of the residents of the house was also said to have been vandalised by the robbers who shot sporadically into the air.

It was gathered that other houses in the area had suffered similar fates from robbers in the past.

There was no response from the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, when she was contacted.

Source: Punchng