Nigerian held for robbing four New York banks

A 53-year- old Nigerian , Abdullahi Shuaibu , has been
arrested by the New York Police for allegedly robbing
four Manhattan banks.

The four banks are located at United Nations
headquarters on First Avenue, near E. 42 nd Street ,
where the suspect worked
Shuaibu , who was apprehended on Monday, was said
to have committed the crime within two months
during his launch hours, when he was allowed to
leave his workplace .

According to the News Agency of Nigeria reports ,
authorities were led to the suspect after a retired
police officer, who works at the UN , recognised him
from a surveillance image previously released by the
police,
In the first robbery, Shuaibu reportedly walked into
a Santander Bank on Madison Avenue, near E . 43rd
Street on February 27 and told the teller he had a
gun.

The bank employee was said to have complied
and handed him an unknown sum of money .
He hit two more banks in March , first striking out at
a Bank of America on Third Avenue near E. 47th
Street .

He also succeeded in robbing a Santander Bank on
Third Avenue and E. 63rd Street on March 27.

On Monday, when he met his Waterloo, Shuaibu was
said to have walked into an HSBC on Third Avenue
and E . 40th Street . around 2. 30pm and passed a note
demanding cash to the teller .

The teller did not read the note and asked him for
identification .

He, however , instructed the teller to read the note ,
keeping his hand in his jacket pocket while
simulating a gun, police said.

Police arrested him later in the day when he
returned to the UN .

Shuaibu was an employee of the News Agency of
Nigeria and served as its UN correspondent between
2006 and 2009.

The agency , however , terminated his appointment in
April 2013 following his refusal to resume work in
Nigeria at the expiration of his duty and an extended
period which he requested to enable him to complete
an academic programme .

A UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric , denied that
Shuaibu was a worker of the organisation .
Dujarric said , “ Contrary to what was reported, the
suspect , Abdullahi Shuaibu, is not an employee of
the United Nations nor is he an accredited journalist
to the United Nations nor was he arrested at the
United Nations .

“ Until 2010 , he was a resident correspondent
representing the News Agency of Nigeria .”