Soldiers' Children Blamed For FRCN Robbery Attack

Five days after a gang of unknown gunmen attacked the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Training School in Ikeja, Lagos, one of the witnesses of the robbery attack has alleged that ‘children of soldiers’ in the area perpetrated the criminal act.

It was reported over the weekend that gunmen stormed the FRCN training school on Friday, September 5, 2014, and dispossessed students of their belongings.

According to reports, the gunmen tried to attack the new BOND FM station allegedly to steal the newly purchased transmitting devices at the station.

Earlier reports had informed that some of the victims of the incident told newsmen that they could not ascertain the identities of the criminals because some of them were not wearing masks.

However, latest report from one of the victims, who did not want her name mentioned, alleged that children of some soldiers were responsible for the attack.

According to the source, who happens to be one of the students of the school, Friday’s attack was the third in the series robbery incidents in the school.

She claimed the attack was perpetrated by people who were familiar with the compound and its setting.

“The first time they came, they attacked the office of our director and stole his laptops alongside other equipment in the school.

“The second time, the gunmen attacked Bond FM studios and now, this place,” the source stated.

She added that: “We were later made to realise that children of soldiers who are not always around with their families were responsible for the act.

“They pick up their parents’ guns and get out of the house to dispossess people of their belongings at ungodly hours and nothing is being done about it.”

The source however, noted that though nobody was raped during the robbery incident but the gunmen threatened to rape them if they do not cooperate.

“The reports that the guys raped anybody are totally untrue. They stopped their operations when they got to room 12.

“They didn’t rape any lady because we were all there and didn’t see anybody being raped. though the robbers harassed the ladies and threatened to rape them if they didn’t part with their belongings,” she opined.

Investigation revealed that the robbery attack took place at about 2am, with the gunmen first attempting to gain entrance into the financial records office.

Meanwhile, while commenting on the incident, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide confirmed the robbery attack but denied any knowledge of students at the training school being raped.

She said: “I was informed that the school has been burgled three times. But they had never reported.

“It’s only today (Monday) that an official complaint was lodged. No case of rape was reported and I can confirm to you that nobody has come forward to say that she was raped during the incident.”