Soldiers Shoot, Arrest One ‘Of The Seven Armed Robbers’ Who Killed Seven At Ondo Bank

Officers of the Nigeria Army have nabbed one of the daredevil
armed robbers who invaded the First Bank branch in Idoani, Ondo
State, on Monday.

Our correspondent gathered that the hoodlums came in a utility
vehicle and stormed the city in commado style, shooting
sporadically into air.

The robbers, numbering at least seven, forcefully gained entry
to the banking premises after scaring people away on their arrival
around 2:30pm.

They carted away money from the bank’s vault, using dynamites to
blow if up.

Our correspondent reported that the financial institution is the
only one located at the the Isewa quarters of Idoani in Ose Local
Council Area.

Different locals said Monday’s robbery incident would be the
first of such in the sleepy community in recent years.

During their operations, no less than seven people were gunned
down by the robbers, including a police inspector whose identity is
yet to be revealed.

Also killed were two staff of the financial institution and two
customers transacting business on the Automated Teller Machine
(ATM), among others.

Five other persons who sustained varying degrees of injuries
were all rushed to the General hospital, Ido-Ani, for immediate
treatment.

Soldiers deployed to man security in Isua-Akoko say they have
nabbed one of the robbers.

A local vigilante in the community disclosed this to
SaharaReporters in a telephone conversation, saying arrested robber
is in custody of the military.

“The robbers wore black and drove into the town in a utility
vehicle; they ransacked the bank before entering the vaults,” said
the vigilante.

“Their operations lasted close to an hour before the military
men posted to Isua-Akoko boundary could race to the scene of the
robbery and also engage them in gun duel.

“At the end, some of the robbbers, who were about seven, escaped
through the bush path with the money, but one of them was unlucky
as he was caught and shot by the soldiers and they immediately
handcuffed him to the back of the military van.”

Femi Joseph, the Spokesperson of Ondo State Police Command, also
confirmed the arrest of the robber in a phone chat on Monday
evening.

Joseph, a Superintendent of Police, said investigation had
started on the incident and vowed that other members of the robbery
gang would be arrested.

“Yes, one of the armed robbers was arrested during the operation
while his other colleagues fled the scene,” he said.
“Investigations have started on the incident, and I can assure you
that we shall arrest the remaining gang of the group,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of the state, has mandated
all security agencies in the state to go after the armed
robbers.

Akeredolu gave the directive while paying a condolence visit to
Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, at his palace.

The Governor, represented by his deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi,
described the incident as unfortunate but implored the security
agents to fish out the perpetrators.

“We are glad that a suspect has been nabbed and I am very sure
he will create a channel that will lead to the arrest of those
criminals,” he said.

Oba Olutoye said the bandits also came into his compound,
damaged his door and by the time they gained entrance, they
discovered it was a fruitless effort. He appealed to the State
government to assist the bereaved in order to lessen the burden the
incident had caused them.