Lagos bank robbers escape by boat

Armed robbers attacked two banks in Nigeria’s biggest city of Lagos today and escaped the city’s notorious gridlock traffic in a waiting speed boat, witnesses said.

More than eight men armed with automatic rifles and submachine guns, some wearing bandanas, raided a waterfront compound in the upscale Victoria Island district where lagoon-side branches of Oceanic Bank and Trust Bank are located.

Some of robbers fired in the air near an adjoining highway to scare away motorists while the rest went into the banks, several witnesses said.

“A few minutes later, those inside ran out carrying bags and the all ran into a waiting boat and sped off,” said Gbenga Adeoye, an employee of another company in the same building.

Both banks closed their doors to customers after the robberies.

City police spokesman Bode Ojajuni could not be reached for comment.

Daylight bank heists are frequent in the city, with robbers often making wild drives through its traffic-clogged streets to get away.