Seven people killed as armed robbers invade Osun banks, police station

No fewer than seven people including police officers were shot dead in Osun State on Wednesday evening as armed robbers attacked two banks and a police station.

Sources who witnessed the incident told Mouthpiece NGR that the operations were carried out at a First Bank in Ikire and Access Bank in Apomu around 6:00 p.m.

Some residents of Apomu, Isokan Local Government Area and Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area were confirmed to have lost their lives during the incident. 

The criminals who shot sporadically were said to have stormed Apomu before moving to Ikire.

The bullets fired injured residents while seven people were killed during the attack.

A resident of Ikire, who simply identified himself as Sola, said: “The robbers came into the community around 5:55pm and were shooting.

“I don’t know maybe they were able to enter the bank and chart away money but I am sure that people were killed.”

Spokesperson of Osun Police, SP Yemisi Opalola, in an interview with our correspondent on Thursday morning said the armed robbers were about 35 and they came in five vehicles to carry out the operations. 

She said: “The Commissioner of Police, Mr Olawale Olokode is now at the scene of the crime.

“The robbers attacked two banks and they killed some people. They attacked a police station during the operation.”

Mouthpiece NGR gathered that four police officers and three residents were killed when they attacked Ikire divisional headquarters. 

“I know of two people who died in the incident. They were at the ATM points where they were hit by stray bullets,” a witness who pleaded anonymity because of fear of attack told our correspondent.

Oplalola further said: “They attacked Ikire Divisional Police HQ and the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) pinned down at Ikoyi-Osun with several explosive devices and several gun firing in a bid to subdue the capacity of the Police while attempting to Rob First Bank Ikire and Access Bank Apomu respectively.”

“It is unfortunate that ASP Osho Oluranti, Inspector Lekan Olalere, Two (2) Special Constabularies; namely Oladeni Olalekan, and Oyedeji Muyideen were shot dead in the process.”

“On sighting the overwhelming Policemen Comprising: Prompt response Response Unit (PRU), CP’s Surveillance team, IRT Operatives, STS, 39 PMF, JTF, along with the local Security outfits, who swiftly engaged them in a fierce gun duel, the Robbers began to flee.