IMO BANK ROBBERY: PUNCH, OTHERS LAUNCH GOFUNDME APPEAL FOR HERO COP

Nigerians have started donating to raise funds for the family of a late Nigerian policeman, Sergeant Chukwudi Iboko, who died after the robbery of a Zenith Bank branch on Wetheral Road, Owerri, Imo State. 

.

.

In the 2.58 minutes video, the victim could be seen firing at the robbers before running out of a security post. He was reported to have been injured during the incident and was admitted to a hospital where he died the following day. 

.

.

The Punch Newspapers, together with some social activitists, led by Kayode Ogundamisi, raised a GoFundMe account. As of 11.07pm on Sunday, the account, which targets to raise $15,000 for the family, had realised over $7,000.

.

.

Social activist, Ogundamisi, has been in the forefront of raising funds to support the family. Having raised N200,000 for the rent of the Ibokos, Ogundamisi campaigned vigorously on Twitter for Nigerians to join in the GoFundMe appeal. 

.

.

One Philip Obin, who replied to Ogundamisi’s tweet, said a friend of his had indicated interest in sponsoring the education of the children. A blogger, Ifeanyi Njoku, said he would be handing over N500,000 to the widow of the deceased cop on Monday. 

.
The lone survivor of the incident, Attang, said the unbearable cost of treatment at the police clinic forced him to go to a more affordable hospital. He acknowledged that Zenith Bank had provided N400,000, while the injured policemen were at the FMC Owerri, adding that the bank also provided another N200,000 for their care while they were at the police clinic. 

.

.

He said since then he had been left to fend for himself. Attang said AIG Lakanu visited them at the FMC on the day of the incident and told them that he (Lakanu) had spoken with the IG of Police, who had approved that they be recommended for promotion because of their gallantry. 

.

.

Attang, however, expressed regrets that no word about the promotion had been heard again. The injured policeman revealed further that appeals to the management of Zenith Bank had yielded no result.