A team of policemen and a gang of armed robbers exchanged gunshots for about 30 minutes on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge on Thursday afternoon, The PUNCH has learnt.
An eyewitness, who called our correspondent on the telephone, said the robbers robbed a bank at Lekki phase 1 and attempted to escape through the link bridge to Ikoyi when they encountered policemen.
It was learnt that motorists abandoned their vehicles on the bridge and fled while the shooting lasted.
The eyewitness, who identified himself as Tayo, said, “Around 4.45pm, I was driving to my office in Ikoyi from Lekki but when I got a spot on the bridge, I heard sporadic gunshots. Fortunately, policemen at the tail end of the bridge inwards Ikoyi, shot back.
“We all came out of our vehicles and laid on the floor to avoid being hit by stray bullets. At some point, some of the policemen were overwhelmed by the fire power of the robbers and had to flee.
“The robbers later jumped into a speed boat and escaped through the water.”
Our correspondent learnt that scores of policemen from various police formations are still on the bridge while heavy traffic has up built from the Lekki Roundabout to Bourdillon.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission says high incidents of violence should be expected in Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna states ahead of the elections.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, said the police would need to mop up all illegal fire arms before the March 28 elections.
