He promised to kill me and my girlfriend- Culprit of botched Abuja money heist reveals

One of the culprits arrested at the scene of the botched robbery attack of First bank in Abuja has explained the role he played in the crime.

The culprit who identified himself as Larry Ehizo, confessed that he was a Customer Service Officer with the first generation bank at Mpape, Abuja.

He also revealed that he was coerced into robbing the bank as a getaway driver after the robbery matermind, Ernest threatened to kill him, his girlfriend and his family if he did not facilitate the robbery.

He said he declined to participate in the act but Ernest who is still at large insisted he must cooperate. He also promised to shared proceeds from the success of raid with him.

He said: “I met a friend (Ernest) in November and we had a discussion where we used to hang out and I said something after he complained about our services in the bank and we almost got into a serious argument and I told him that the only thing he would do is get angry and maybe not bank again with us.

“He (Ernest) said he was going to hurt someone and I told him not to do that. That the highest he could do was to maybe rob the bank to make them feel bad. I did not know he had that on record and he used that to threaten me that I must take the people that he would bring into the bank.

“He threatened my family, me and even the people around me – even my girlfriend. After that, I was afraid to go to the police because he said even if I went to the police he had already informed his colleagues and because he is a cultist.

“That is when he brought them. I still begged him and he went as far as my family house and threatened to kill them. He brought them on that day that I should take them in and tell them what to do.

“He even followed us to the bank but escaped when they caught them. He insisted I took them inside the place in my car and that was the only thing I was supposed to do and leave the rest for them to do.

“I didn’t report to the police because of the threat. He brought his fellow cultists to my house and threatened me and my girlfriend. He said he was going to give them N7 million. He said I was going to get 20 per cent and I told him I did not want anything. He said I must collect it. I am a Customer Service Officer. I have been with the bank for over two years.

“If I had gone to the police I would not have been here talking now. Members of my family also would not be. He knows my family house and knows where I stay personally at Mpape. I did everything out of fear of being killed.

“Ernest is a customer at the bank. He comes around. There is a place I go to hang out in Mpape. He is a barman there. He sells drinks. On normal situations, we have sat down to have drinks. We discuss about football, family and how to move forward.”