Armed Robbers attack three banks, blow up police station, kill four in Kogi

Armed robbers have attacked three commercial banks in Egbe and Odo-Ere in Yagba-West local government area, Kogi, killing four people and injuring many others, say the Nigeria Police.

The police commissioner, Idris Dauda Babban, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Lokoja, said he was awaiting details on the violent attacks from the area commander.

The armed robbery, according to witnesses, started at about 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday and lasted for about two hours as the police operatives tried to repel the robbers.

It was learnt that the criminals drove to Egbe town in a Toyota Highlander and other vehicles suspected to have been snatched from their owners along with three Bajaj motorcycles.

The witnesses added that the robbers, in large numbers, started their onslaught at about 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday when they stormed Egbe Divisional Police Station and started shooting sporadically.

Consequently, they were said to have bombed the police station with improvised explosive devices, causing residents to flee.

Sources further revealed that in the operation that lasted for about two hours, the robbers were said to have left the Divisional Police Headquarters and proceeded to a branch of the Access Bank Plc in the town.

They killed the security guard on duty and one other person. Several people injured were rushed to ECWA Hospital in Egbe.

The robbers also attacked a branch of First Bank of Nigeria in Egbe, out of business for more than two years due to constant robbery attacks.

After the robbery attacks in Egbe, the robbers moved towards Odo-Ere, headquarters of Yagba-West.

They were said to have had a field day at the UBA branch in the town after attacking a police station with residents fleeing for their lives.

At the UBA branch, a security guard was killed on the bank’s premises, and stray bullets also killed a lady in her 20s as the robbers shot indiscriminately.

(NAN)