Gunmen rob Ekiti bank, attack police station

There was pandemonium on Friday in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ekiti State, when a 30-man gang robbed a bank in the town. The robbers overran a police station in the community before heading for their target.

According to the public relations officer of the Ekiti State Police Command, Victor Babayemi, the gang came into town on motorbikes and shot into the air in a manner that created panic; a bank official was said to have been wounded and has been taken to the hospital for treatment.

An eyewitness disclosed that the bandits had riddled the station with bullets, gained entry into the bank hall and carted away an undisclosed amount of money in the robbery.

The incident occurred at about 11.30am. It disrupted commercial activities for close to two hours, as traders closed their shops and stayed indoors.

However, Babayemi said his policemen had repelled the robbers’ attempt to overrun the station and stopped them from robbing the bank, contrary to rumours in circulation.

He said: “The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, quickly drafted men to the town, who engaged the robbers in a gun duel and botched the operation. They wanted to overrun the station but we repelled them.

“When they saw that we were gaining the upper hand, because we succeeded in putting them in disarray, they fled into the bush and our men are on their trail.

“They can only rob in the rural areas because of the tight security network we have on ground in Ado-Ekiti. So, banks in Ado-Ekiti can operate without fear.”

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