Robbers and pickpockets fleeced many of the shoppers that thronged the Shoprite branch on FESTAC Town, which opened at Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos on Thursday.

The unsuspecting shoppers had like others thronged the mall located inside the Golden Tulip hotel, before they were successfully robbed by the gang, who made away with their valuables.

The victims were robbed despite the   presence of policemen, who were seen within and outside the mall.

Some of the shoppers had their phones, money, ATM cards, purses and even the goodies they bought stolen by the criminal gang.
It was reported that one of the shoppers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “There was no armed robbery attack at the mall. What happened was that we had some pickpockets.

“Because of the crowd, they pretended to be shoppers and stole people’s phones and their money.”

One of the victims said they were accosted and robbed by the robbery gang.
 “We had finished shopping and we had gone to the car park when these groups of robbers accosted us and robbed us.

“They took my money, my purse, my friend’s phones and money, as well as her mother’s ATM card and phones.”