Confusion over FESTAC Town shooting

There was heavy shooting in the FESTAC town area of Lagos but it wasn’t a robbery attempt as initially feared.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Nduka, confirmed the gunfire exchange to TheCable, saying it was taking place at 4th Avenue.

“They have exchange of gunshots for over one hour now, and none of the security agencies has come to our rescue,” he said. “This is the second time in the year that this be happening at 4th Avenue.”

The attackers were said to have invaded the town through the waterways.

However, Dolapo Badmos, spokesperson of the Lagos state command of the police, denied that there was an armed robber in the town.

“The attention of the Lagos state command has been drawn to a false alarm been raised and circulated on social media about armed robbery operations going on at 4th Avenue, Festac Town, in three new generational banks and at the same time the killing of a customer today, 15th day of July 2016,” she said.

“The command wishes to inform members of the public that this story is just a figment of imagination of the initiator; it is not anyway or part true and so should be treated as such and by extension discarded.

“The Command has put in place strategies which has in a long time ward off any form of bank robbery in the state, as it remains resolute in ensuring no bank robbery or any form of robbery happens again in Lagos state.

“However residents of Festac Town and Lagos at large are hereby assured of the Command’s commitment to their safety and security. Members of the public are hereby advised to verify information before circulating to avoid creating unnecessary panic and feelings of insecurity, and to promptly report any form of criminality to the police.”