ARMED ROBBERS ATTACK 81 YEAR OLD PUBLISHER OF VANGUARD NEWSPAPER SAM AMUKA

Gunmen, yesterday, invaded the Anthony, Lagos, abode of the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Sam Amuka, dispossessed him of some money meant for a trip to South Africa, this weekend.

The bandits, numbering five, also assaulted the 81-year-old publisher using iron rods and other dangerous weapons on him. His mobile phone, electronic gadgets and other valuables were also stolen. The hoodlums reportedly stormed the one-storey building located on Adebayo Mukuolu Street at about 1.30 am in a Toyota car.

The hoodlums reportedly stormed the one-storey building located on Adebayo Mukuolu Street at about 1.30 am in a Toyota car. They parked their vehicle close to the gate with one of the gang members inside, while others scaled the high walls of the publisher’s expansive compound.

They cut the burglar proof of one of the windows with chisel, from where they gained access into one of the sitting rooms. It was gathered that when they could not open the entrance door leading to his bedroom, they broke the ceiling and succeeded in getting in.

The bewildered octogenarian was repeatedly ordered to “bring the money” or get killed. Eye witnesses said: “Two of them were armed with pistols, while the rest had iron rods, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.”

A staff of Vanguard, who usually takes the day’s newspapers to the publisher’s house, claimed he saw an ash coloured car speeding out of the street before he got to the main gate to drop the papers.

The publisher was later rushed to a private hospital.It was gathered that the Commander, Rapid Respond Squad, RRS, Mr Tunde Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, was the first security personnel to rush to the scene with a team of policemen, after he was alerted. The Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Anthony Village division, Mr Chima Agha, a Superintendent of Police also visited.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, who spoke with the recuperating publisher from his Abuja office, informed that he would personally handle investigation. Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, later rushed to the scene with the Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Mr Edgar Imohimi, where he assured that the fleeing bandits would be arrested.

Also, policemen from the forensic section of the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department, SCIID, were sighted at the scene taking finger prints. Police sources said 10 persons had so far been arrested. The suspects, as gathered, had been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud, SCID Ikeja, following a directive from the IGP.