Monrovia – Officers of the Liberian National Police Sunday thwarted a robbery targeting Ecobank Liberia Kakata, Margibi County Branch that led to a shootout between the Police and the alleged armed robbers.
According to reports, about ten men armed with single barrel guns and other deadly weapons early Sunday morning entered the bank after cutting one of the barb wires protecting the bank where the melee ensued between the robbers and Police officers who had gone to prevent the robbery.
During the incident, one notorious alleged robber already on a Police wanted list who was said to be the right leader of the gang identified as Akin was killed in the process while four of his accomplices sustained bullet wounds.
The late Akin is said to have orchestrated several robberies of banking institutions in Monrovia and environs and has been in hiding for months before he resurfaced in Kakata.
The ring leader and his accomplices are said to have used oxygen tank and saw blade to enter the bank before they were pursued by the Police which subsequently stopped the robbery.
The wounded alleged robbers are currently undergoing treatment at the C.H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata.
Amongst those wounded, include Samuel Davis who was arrested after he formed part of the last November attack on the Equatorial Palm Oil plantation where robbers attached a pay team and made away with thousands of dollars.
Davis, 29-year old was charged for armed robbery by the Liberia National Police and jailed at the Grand Bassa Prison Center was later released following a court order, Police sources stated.
Others wounded in the shot out alongside Davis are Alex Yakpawolo 33-year old who told Police investigators that he was recruited by Akin as the driver for the operation, Junior Johnson 35, and Abraham Doe 34 years.
Police investigators have indicated that the robbers damaged the CCTV Camera and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) server in the bank in attempt to hinder Police investigation.
High alert has been put up by the Police in the county in search of the remaining five who were believed to be waiting in a parked vehicle at the time of the incident while the others entered the bank.
The Liberia National Police has meanwhile informed residents of Margibi County not to provide hideout for the remaining robbers who are in hot pursuit, stressing that anyone providing accommodations for them will be arrested and charged with facilitating the crime of armed robbery.
The LNP said despite the drawdown of the UN Mission and the logistical constrains, couple with low budgetary support it will continue to provide professional service to the people of Liberia and those doing business within the country.
The Police assured the business community of its fullest protection from the hand hands of criminals, but called on the public to always assist the Police with information.
Several residents of Kakata City who visited scene of the incident lauded the Police for its prompt intervention that saved the bank from being robbed.
It can be recalled that recently the Police went more than two months without salaries but Police authorities blamed the situation on a mandate by the government to pay all public works in Liberia dollars.
The situation was later resolved and the Police salaries payment commenced last week.
