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Armed Robbery In Benin Republic, Third Incident In Almost A Decade
By Vincent Nnanna/ Cotonou
Published: April 3, 2008
To the average Nigerian, this type of caption will attract little or no attention because it is a regular
feature. The question is not whether a bank will be robbed, but which one? But here in Benin
republic, we have only recorded two bank robberies spaced over a period of more than eight
years. This one under review, being the third, raises a lot of eyebrows.
The sophistication, dramatizing, speed and marksmanship of shooting at targets have characterised
this incidence, that people begin to not only wonder but have come to realize how unsafe it is
becoming to live in a country that ranked number one on the list of peaceful African environment.
Here goes the story.
Between 15.00 hours and 15.30 local time on April 1, 2008, the city of Cotonou was greeted with
an unprecedented commando-style armed robbery. Some robbers numbering about fifteen had
anchored at the lagoon which constitutes the eastern border of the Dantokpa international market
within the city centre. They looked like other fishermen and passenger ferry boats who disembark
by that harbour to enter the market.
So, it was difficult to suspect anything uncommon except that their speed boats' engines never
stopped running.Their destination was two international banks located within twenty meters of
each other within the main bowl of the Dantokpa market. Within less than two minutes of
assuming strategic positions, the robbers who were apparently heavily armed with automatic sub-
machine guns and some AK-47 simultaneously fired warning shots and ordered everyone in the
banks to stay quiet.
They then went ahead to amass every cash they could lay hands on including from customers who
had not yet handed theirs to the Bank cashiers. Operations ended, the robbers then engaged in
sporadic firing, shattering doors and protective gates in their bid to escape. While people dived into
nearest hidings for dear lives, the robbers sped off to their waiting flying boats and disappeared
into the high sea.The Manager of the Dantokpa branch of Diamond Bank and his staff were in a
very traumatic state of mind to speak to anyone. All he could tell me as I pressed to get some bit
of information was that they had a hierarchy in the bank, and I should rather approach their
headquarters to speak with the Public Relations Officer. As at the time of filing in this report, all
the Banks branches have been placed under lock and key.
The Police Commissioner at the Dantokpa post told me that his men had not arrived at any
conclusive reports, and so could not risk any incorrect information.All the traders and business
people within the two adjoining international markets had thronged to the scene of the incidence to
see things for themselves, as there had never been any robbery of its kind before in the city. When
I tried to speak with some of them, they were unanimous in condemning the general security
situation in the city.
They were of the opinion that if there had been adequate security, such an incident could not have
taken place. Meanwhile there has not been any word as to how much money had been taken away
by the robbers. But on a usual Tuesday (which records high traffic on account of traders coming
from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina-Fasso), the takes are always higher
than other days of the week. Therefore, the robbers must have taken this trend into consideration
before embarking on their operation.
LATEST ON THE BANK ROBBERY
The "James Bond" style of escape by the daylight bank robbers in Cotonou yesterday still holds the
populace spellbound. This morning, people are apprehensive of opening their business houses.
They just gather around in clusters, discussing the dramatic event of yesterday. Armed security
officials are being noticed at all the Bank premises, which had not been a common feature in the
past.The Police Commissioner at the Central Police station has confirmed that four (4) persons
have been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the said robbery. The suspects are
said to be some members of the gang who could not hasten into the speed boat as it hurried away
with their loot.
These four men therefore decided to join their group at some predesignated spot but were
unfortunately caught within three kilometres on their way outside the city. Some of the evidences
found in their possession include locally made shortguns and packets of unused ammunition.What
appears to be collateral damage resulting from the robbers fire power include two soldiers
identified as Houssou Fiarc and Eric, whom the robbers perceived as potential impediment to their
escape bid and sought to get rid of them. The two soldiers are reported to have died from gun shot
wounds and have been deposited at the University Teaching Hospital where two other women are
still being treated for serious bullet wounds.Bureau de Change operators in the informal sector who
have their shops or stalls right in front of the motorway that passes through the market have got
stories of having been robbed during that operation.
FOOT NOTE: What is bothering me as a Nigerian is the fact that one local newspaper here in
Benin resorted to name-calling instead of reporting the facts as they had evolved as at yesterday.
This paper which goes by the name Le CHALLENGE added on its caption that the armed robbers
were Nigerians. As at the time of that publication, no arrests had been made. How could a good
journalist arrive at such inciting conclusions, knowing fully well that this can incense the indigenes
against Nigerians living in the city. And Beninese are very much disposed to xenophobia attitude
with Nigerians as their main target. I have had to call the Embassy of Nigeria more than a dozen
times since morning to try to liaise with the Head of Chancery who I was told is not expected to
be in office throughout this week. Neither could I be linked up to another senior official. My
intention was to see how we could protest to the Minister of Communication or the Minister of
Interieur to seek redress by making the journalist retract that statement.
- Local Newspaper Says they Are Nigerians
By Vincent Nnanna/ Cotonou
Published: April 3, 2008
To the average Nigerian, this type of caption will attract little or no attention because it is a regular
feature. The question is not whether a bank will be robbed, but which one? But here in Benin
republic, we have only recorded two bank robberies spaced over a period of more than eight
years. This one under review, being the third, raises a lot of eyebrows.
The sophistication, dramatizing, speed and marksmanship of shooting at targets have characterised
this incidence, that people begin to not only wonder but have come to realize how unsafe it is
becoming to live in a country that ranked number one on the list of peaceful African environment.
Here goes the story.
Between 15.00 hours and 15.30 local time on April 1, 2008, the city of Cotonou was greeted with
an unprecedented commando-style armed robbery. Some robbers numbering about fifteen had
anchored at the lagoon which constitutes the eastern border of the Dantokpa international market
within the city centre. They looked like other fishermen and passenger ferry boats who disembark
by that harbour to enter the market.
So, it was difficult to suspect anything uncommon except that their speed boats' engines never
stopped running.Their destination was two international banks located within twenty meters of
each other within the main bowl of the Dantokpa market. Within less than two minutes of
assuming strategic positions, the robbers who were apparently heavily armed with automatic sub-
machine guns and some AK-47 simultaneously fired warning shots and ordered everyone in the
banks to stay quiet.
They then went ahead to amass every cash they could lay hands on including from customers who
had not yet handed theirs to the Bank cashiers. Operations ended, the robbers then engaged in
sporadic firing, shattering doors and protective gates in their bid to escape. While people dived into
nearest hidings for dear lives, the robbers sped off to their waiting flying boats and disappeared
into the high sea.The Manager of the Dantokpa branch of Diamond Bank and his staff were in a
very traumatic state of mind to speak to anyone. All he could tell me as I pressed to get some bit
of information was that they had a hierarchy in the bank, and I should rather approach their
headquarters to speak with the Public Relations Officer. As at the time of filing in this report, all
the Banks branches have been placed under lock and key.
The Police Commissioner at the Dantokpa post told me that his men had not arrived at any
conclusive reports, and so could not risk any incorrect information.All the traders and business
people within the two adjoining international markets had thronged to the scene of the incidence to
see things for themselves, as there had never been any robbery of its kind before in the city. When
I tried to speak with some of them, they were unanimous in condemning the general security
situation in the city.
They were of the opinion that if there had been adequate security, such an incident could not have
taken place. Meanwhile there has not been any word as to how much money had been taken away
by the robbers. But on a usual Tuesday (which records high traffic on account of traders coming
from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina-Fasso), the takes are always higher
than other days of the week. Therefore, the robbers must have taken this trend into consideration
before embarking on their operation.
LATEST ON THE BANK ROBBERY
The "James Bond" style of escape by the daylight bank robbers in Cotonou yesterday still holds the
populace spellbound. This morning, people are apprehensive of opening their business houses.
They just gather around in clusters, discussing the dramatic event of yesterday. Armed security
officials are being noticed at all the Bank premises, which had not been a common feature in the
past.The Police Commissioner at the Central Police station has confirmed that four (4) persons
have been taken into custody for questioning in connection with the said robbery. The suspects are
said to be some members of the gang who could not hasten into the speed boat as it hurried away
with their loot.
These four men therefore decided to join their group at some predesignated spot but were
unfortunately caught within three kilometres on their way outside the city. Some of the evidences
found in their possession include locally made shortguns and packets of unused ammunition.What
appears to be collateral damage resulting from the robbers fire power include two soldiers
identified as Houssou Fiarc and Eric, whom the robbers perceived as potential impediment to their
escape bid and sought to get rid of them. The two soldiers are reported to have died from gun shot
wounds and have been deposited at the University Teaching Hospital where two other women are
still being treated for serious bullet wounds.Bureau de Change operators in the informal sector who
have their shops or stalls right in front of the motorway that passes through the market have got
stories of having been robbed during that operation.
FOOT NOTE: What is bothering me as a Nigerian is the fact that one local newspaper here in
Benin resorted to name-calling instead of reporting the facts as they had evolved as at yesterday.
This paper which goes by the name Le CHALLENGE added on its caption that the armed robbers
were Nigerians. As at the time of that publication, no arrests had been made. How could a good
journalist arrive at such inciting conclusions, knowing fully well that this can incense the indigenes
against Nigerians living in the city. And Beninese are very much disposed to xenophobia attitude
with Nigerians as their main target. I have had to call the Embassy of Nigeria more than a dozen
times since morning to try to liaise with the Head of Chancery who I was told is not expected to
be in office throughout this week. Neither could I be linked up to another senior official. My
intention was to see how we could protest to the Minister of Communication or the Minister of
Interieur to seek redress by making the journalist retract that statement.