From Paul Osuyi, Asaba

There was pandemonium yesterday in Asaba, Delta State capital, when a gang of five armed robbers stormed a branch of an old generation bank in futile attempt to rob a customer who had come to deposit huge sum of money.

However, the customer, a middle-aged man, was shot in the chest region at close range because of his refusal to let go of the bag containing the money. Although the victim later died, on the way to the hospital, his rare display of courage ensured that the robbers did not cart away the money. After being shot, he staggered into the bank premises clutching the bag of money.

A witness told our correspondent that the robbers, who operated in a blue Golf car, arrived the bank’s neighbourhood about an hour before the victim arrived in a commercial tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP.

He said: “Three of them who sat close to my shop got up and walked towards the victim, who carried a black bag. They pointed a gun at him, but he held on to the bag. 

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“At first, I thought it was one of the movie scenes, as these Nollywood people do use Asaba to shoot their movies. But before we knew it, they shot the man. It was at this point that everyone, including the policemen at the bank, fled. The victim held on the bag of money and struggled into the bank, where he fell,” the source said.

He revealed that having failed to grab the bag, the robbers rushed into their get-away car parked a few meters away from the scene of crime.

“They were in the car for sometime as the car’s engine refused to start. But nobody, not even armed policemen, dared to challenged them until they finally zoomed,” the witness added.

Daily Sun gathered that when the robbers left, bank officials quickly rushed the shot victim to the hospital. He was pronounced death on arrival at the hospital, while his corpse was deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident, said the matter was already being investigated.