UPDATE: Police, six others killed as armed robbers attack bank in Ondo

At least seven people, including a police officer, a bank official and customers, were killed on Monday afternoon when daredevil armed robbers invaded the only bank in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Five other people who were said to have been shot by the armed bandits and sustained injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in the town after the incident.

It was gathered that the armed robbers who operated unhindered for over an hour arrived at the premises of the bank around 2 pm opened fire, shooting sporadically to scare away people while two people who were at the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) point were shot dead.

The source said the armed men who positioned themselves around the bank located at Isewa quarters in the ancient town blew off the security door leading to the bank with dynamites to gain entrance into the bank.

He explained that there was heavy shooting for over an hour while the whole town was turned to ghost town while some of the hoodlums went away with unspecified amount of money before the arrival of security agents.

He said one Police Inspector and three others were killed inside the banking hall, as it was gathered that the armed men were angered when they could not get access to the bank vault on time.

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According to him, men of the Nigerian Army who were deployed to the scene of the incident engaged the bandit in a gun duel while one of the robbers was shot and arrested by the soldiers.

He, however, said the soldiers have been on the trail of the bandit who escaped from the town.

He said the number of casualties would have been more than seven if school children who were n locked up in their school premises.

He said, “students from the various school have just closed for the day when the armed men struck and students were prevented from leaving their schools by their teachers.”

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said six people were killed in the robbery incident.

He listed the victims to include, four customers of the bank, one inspector and one bank official but said one of the robbers was arrested while the command has been on the trail of others