The Police Command in Osun State on Thursday disclosed that seven people, including two police officers and two constabularies, were killed during an attack by a suspected armed robber on two banks in Apomu and Ikire communities.
The command in a statement released through its spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said the armed robbers numbering 35 at about 6.10 pm on Wednesday attacked two commercial banks in Ikire and Apomu.
She further stated that the robbers were repelled by the combined team of police operatives and local security outfits and were forced to flee to the bush.
Opalola added that the robbers shot three residents during the attack after the police operatives and local security groups engaged them.
The statement read in part, “The armed robbers numbering about Thirty-five(35) came in about Five(5) vehicles simultaneously 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 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. While escaping, they shot sporadically, and regrettably, three (3) civilians were shot namely Toheeb Oyebola, Temilorun Adebiyi and one other, (whose identity is not yet known),all-male.
“They did not succeed in robbing any of the banks. The assailants fled to the bush with gunshot wounds, abandoning two of the operational vehicles they came with.”
Opalola said remains of the victims had been deposited at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital morgue, Apomu, adding that effort is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing robbers
