Two policemen have been killed by armed robbers who attacked a commercial bank in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State.
The robbers, numbering about 20, came in with about four vehicles and simultaneously attacked Iragbiji Divisional Police Headquarters and a bank.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin confirmed the attack via a statement on Wednesday.
She identified the deceased as Inspector Ogunbiyi Ahmed and Inspector Odeyemi Ayinla, noting that they died during the hot pursuit of the fleeing criminals.
“The gunmen invaded the Police Divisional Headquarters and a bank with sporadic shooting and launching of explosive devices in an attempt to disorganize, incapacitate and destabilize the police who were in a fierce gun battle with them while robbing the bank simultaneously,” she said.
“As a result, some parts of Divisional Police Headquarters were damaged. The daredevils also shot at a Police Armoured Personnel Carrier tyres with explosive devices.”
Although they gained entry into the bank by blowing off its security door with a stick of dynamite and subsequently destroyed the ATM machine, however, an attempt to break into the bank’s strong room was foiled.
Upon sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in a fierce gun duel and took to a flight, thereby abandoning their unexploded dynamites and two of their vehicles.
Meanwhile, police officers in collaboration with the local security outfits have been combing the bushes in a bid to arrest the robbers, believed to have escaped with multiple injuries.
The Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, also asked residents of the state to cooperate with the police.
He solicited prompt and useful information to nip in the bud all criminal activities by reporting anybody with gunshot wounds.