The insecurity in the country reared its ugly head on Thursday evening when deadly armed robbers numbering over 20 invaded banks in Offa, Kwara State with dynamite and sophisticated weapons killing yet to be specified numbers of people.
They went into Offa community in a commando like operations shooting sporadically killing anyone around including policemen on duty.
They reportedly blocked roads from both Ilorin and Oshogbo and entered Owode Police Station in the metropolis.
It was also gathered that the armed bandits first approached the Offa divisional police station on entering the ancient town, killing policemen on duty among other people at the station, before raiding the commercial banks and killing people.
Sources said the men, who numbered over 20, blew up entrances into the banks with dynamite in an operation which lasted for more than one hour.
The banks allegedly affected by the raids are Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank, Union Bank and Eco Bank.
It was learnt that the robbers, who entered the area around 4pm, shot continuously to scare aware some residents.
Among the police men killed by the armed robbers was a man identified as Pelemo, who was expected to retire in a few months and a pregnant police woman.
Our correspondents learnt that the gunmen made away with millions of naira after shattering bank buildings, terrorising workers, customers and passers-by, as well as traders and other people in the vicinity.
A witness, who did not want to be identified, said he saw the corpses of six policemen.
“The ground was littered with corpses. Many people died. I counted six corpses of some policemen at the scene,†he said.
An Internet user said cars on the banks premises were also burnt.
He said, “My siblings just came back home. They were on their way back to church and were caught in the crossfire close to Zenith Bank.
“According to them, no military force confronted the robbers throughout the operation. They used dynamite and crazy guns.
“They saw four people killed. They would have been killed because after they (robbers) finished the operation, a few of them opined that they should release gunfire on them (my siblings and those close to them), but a man, who seemed to be their boss, told them they had little time left and had no option than to exit immediately. Cars were burnt; cars were stolen. They exited through Igbosun route.â€
Graphic pictures of slain policemen and residents were posted by some residents on the Internet.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the robbery in a telephone chat.
He also confirmed that there were casualties, but he could not confirm the number of dead people and how much was stolen.
www.sojworld.com © April 6, 2018
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