At least seven people, including a police officer, bank officials and customers, were killed Monday afternoon, when dare devil armed robbers invaded the only bank in Idoani, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Apart from this, five people were said to have been shot by the armed bandits and were on danger list at the General Hospital in the town.
It was gathered that the armed robbers who operated unhindered for over an hour arrived at the premises of the bank about 2p.m, opened fire, shooting sporadically to scare away people while two people who were at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) point were shot dead.
A source said the armed men who positioned themselves around the bank located at Isewa quarters in the ancient town blew up the security door leading to the bank with dynamites to gain entrance into the bank.
He explained that there was heavy shooting for over an hour as the whole town turned to ghost town and some of the hoodlums ran away with unspecified amount of money before the arrival of security agents.
He said one Police Inspector and three others were killed inside the banking hall, as it was gathered that the armed men were angered when they could not get access to the bank vault on time.
According to him, men of the Nigerian army who were deployed to the scene of the incident engaged the bandits in gun duel while one of the robbers was shot and arrested by the soldiers.
He, however, said the soldiers have been on the trail of the bandits who escaped from the town.
He said the number of casualties would have been more than seven, if school children were not locked up in their school premises.
According to him, “Students from various schools have just closed for the day when the armed men struck and students were prevented from leaving their schools by their teachers”.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident said only six people were killed in the robbery incident.
He listed the victims to include four customers of the bank, a Police Inspector and one bank official, but said one of the robbers was arrested while the command has been on the trail of others.
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