Police in Osun State have said that the armed robbers who stormed two banks in Ikire and Apomu, Osun State, on Wednesday, were 35 in number.
Although they did not succeed in robbing the banks – First Bank and Access Bank – four policemen and four other people lost their lives in the battle, the police added.
In a statement on Thursday, Osun State police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said:
“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.”
