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A commercial bank on the campus of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology was on Friday attacked by a group of armed robbers. Two persons were killed and the robbers reportedly escaped with sacks containing undisclosed amount of money.
Eyewitnesses said the robbers, riding in a Toyota Highlander, numbering six trailed a bullion van into the university at about 3.30 p.m and attacked immediately the bank officials started offloading money from the van.
It was reported that the robbers opened fire and swiftly snatched the money in two “Ghana-must-go” bags and escaped through the over-crowded back gates of the university shooting sporadically in front of the commercial bank.
The student, who spoke under condition of anonymity said, while trying to escape from the campus, the robbers shot and killed an unidentified person while injuring five others.
“The armed robbers were fearless. They entered the state University of Science and Technology, went straight to the bullion van and opened fire,” said a witness.
“They killed one person instantly while five others who were injured were rushed to the hospital. It is shocking that armed robbers can operate successfully inside the campus and go scot-free.
“What I am talking about happened around 3.30pm. They came in through the main gate and left through the back gate of the university. The bank locked their customers inside during the attack.”
Confirming the incidence of the attack on the university to journalists, the Public Relations Officer of UST, Desmond Wosu said “When the robbers sensed that policemen were getting close to them, they jettisoned the operation and abandoned their operational vehicle, including an unspecified amount of money in locked bags. They escaped after robbing a vehicle from a motorist”.