Wole Balogun, Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Police Command, has said a bank official and a private security guard were killed in a bank robbery which occurred in Igede, in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, on Wednesday evening.
Daily Sun gathered that the seven-man armed gang besieged the old generation bank at about 5.50pm, where the two died in the operation which lasted for about 15 minutes.
Confirming the incident in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said more men have been deployed to banks; to curtail armed robbers across the state.
Ikechukwu said there was an exchange of gunfire between his men and the bandits.
He said the confrontation botched the operation as the robbers fled the scene when police closing in on them.
He also revealed that the guard, who was shot in the head, died within the bank premises, while the injured staff died in the hospital.
The PPRO added that the robbers wanted to escape through Ilawe-Igede Road but later escaped through the thick forest between the two towns.
He said the expansive forest hah been cordoned off by the police and that his men are combing the bush in search of the robbers.
“The robbers would have done more havoc than they did, but for the prompt action of our men. The operation was regrettable and the death of the two persons was painful.
“The Command is stepping up its intelligence gathering and operation.
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“If you are on ground in Igede now, more men have been deployed, particularly the mobile police unit. We are doing same across the state.
“As we speak, our Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) and State Intelligence Investigation Department (SIID) have drafted their men for intelligence gathering, while mobile policemen are on road and other critical areas,” he said.
Ikechukwu urged the public to go about their normal businesses, with an assurance that the police are on top of the situation.
The robbers reportedly attacked the bank by blowing up the Automated Tellers Machine (ATM) with bullets, which caused panic within the vicinity.
A witness revealed that the robbers gained entry into the banking hall before being resisted by the police, and added that no one could ascertain whether money was carted away or not.
“The people had to run in different directions for their lives.
“We know a bank staff and a guard were killed, but, we don’t know their identities,” he said.