Banks’ raid: Bandits kill three, raze police station

Inspector General of police, Mohammed Abubakar

Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday shot dead three persons in banks raid in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government of Kwara  State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that armed robbers raided three banks in the town, killing three persons and escaped with an unspecified amount of money.

NAN reports that sporadic gun shots and sound of dynamite were heard at about 6pm  in an operation that lasted for more than an hour in the town.

An eyewitness told NAN that the armed robbers, numbering about 20, first attacked the police station and the barrack, demobilising  the police Armoured Personnel Carrier and cars packed outside.

The armed robbers thereafter invaded three banks all located on Aperan Way in the town, using grenades and dynamite to break their doors and vaults.

The lifeless body of an unidentified worker of one of the banks and a driver were seen lying in the pool of their blood.

Also a member of a vigilance group in the town was also shot dead by the robbers.

Meanwhile, youths in the town, in their hundreds, stormed the Omu-Aran police station and the Area Commander’s office to protest against the incident.

A police patrol vehicle was set ablaze by the angry youths while the police had to respond with tear gas to disperse them.

The Divisional Police Officer in Omu-Aran, Mr. Razak Adebayo, who confirmed the incident and the death, told NAN that the police had started taking stock of the attack on the banks.

He said the armed robbers attacked the station and the barrack at about 6pm when his men were exchanging their rifles and duties.

He said the tyres of the APC and cars were deflated in the process by the robbers.