Indication emerged on Tuesday that at least four of the armed men who participated in the bloody bank robbery in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state have been arrested.
Though the police in the state did not confirm the arrest a security source told Tribune Online that four of the hoodlums were nabbed when trying to escape to a neighbouring state.
The source said the arrested suspects have confessed to the crime while they confirmed that other members of the gang are still at large within the state.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the command is on the trail of the hoodlums with an assurance to bring them to book
According to him, detectives from the state police command have been combing the area in a bid to arrest the criminals while synergy had been established with the neighbouring security agencies to ensure the arrest of the bank robbers.
Joseph said we will not relent in the search until the hoodlums are apprehended and face the wrath of the law. I am assuring you the command is working round the clock to rid the state of criminals and crimes.”
Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has charged security agencies in the state to fish out the hoodlums who participated in the bloody robbery where seven people lost their lives.
The governor who gave this directive at the Palace of the Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, after visiting the scene of the incident promised to strengthen security around the state to prevent a similar occurrence.
Akeredolu who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, described the incident as unfortunate and called on the security agents in the state to bring the perpetrators to book in no distant period.
“We are glad that one of the suspects has been nabbed and I am very sure he will create a channel that will lead to the arrest of those criminals”, he said.
The Governor assured that his administration will continue to partner with the security agencies to nip this kind of incident in the bud.
He, however, charged residents of the State to always assist the security operatives by providing useful information to help in reducing crime in the State.
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Oba Olutoye also disclosed that the bandits also invaded the palace, damaging the main door into the palace but said they had to withdraw from the mission when they discovered it was a fruitless exercise.
He appealed to the State government to strengthen the security in the state while he appealed to the state government to assist the family of bereaved in order to cushion the burden the incident had caused them.
Seven people were killed when armed bandit attacked the only commercial bank in the community, injuring several others during the raid.
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