RESIDENTS of Iju in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Tuesday, scampered for safety when daredevil gunmen suspected to be armed robbers attacked a bank(Wema Bank) killing one person, leaving two others injured during the attack.
The armed men numbering six arrived at the bank premises around 2 pm operated unhindered for over 30 minutes carting away unspecified amount of money from the bank during operation.
According to a source, who spoke with Tribune Online, said that the robbers had laid siege around the bank before invading to the bank, killing a bank official immediately they entered the bank premises.
He explained that the armed robbers who blew the security doors of the bank with dynamites stationed themselves in strategic positions, shooting sporadically till the end of the operation.
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The eye witness added that the robbers who came out of the bank with three bags loaded with cash also shot two other people who included a bank official and a customer
He said there was a gun duel between the armed robbers and some mobile policemen stationed around the bank but said the security operatives bowed to the superior weapons of the criminals.
The source said the robbers, however, escaped from the scene of the incident which is less than one kilometre from Divisional Police Headquarters, hijacking a vehicle belonging to one of the bank official and another one belonging to the bank customers but said they abandoned the vehicles some few kilometres away from the bank.
He disclosed that the remains of the slain bank officials had been deposited at the hospital morgue, while the two injured people were rushed to the State General Hospital in Akure, for treatment.
He said: “The armed robbers operated unhindered for over 30 minutes. We saw them dragging bags of money out of the bank. it was like a movie. We ran for safety and the whole town became a ghost town within minutes.
According to him, “The robbers zoomed off in a red vehicle after putting the bag inside the car.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the command has begun an investigation into the matter.
He confirmed that one person was killed during the attack while two others were injured but said detectives from the command are on the trail of the hoodlums.
He stated that policemen from the command engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, saying the armed robbers had to leave their vehicle behind and escaped into the bush
He said: “We have been combing the bush and our men are on trail of these armed robbers. I can assure you that these criminals will be brought to book.”
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