The Ondo State Police Command has recovered N9 million from the six of the 50 suspected armed robbers, who raided four banks at Owo last week.
Two police women and four others and seven civilians were killed by the robbers, who stormed the banks at about 4pm last Friday. Also killed were a bank manager and his deputy, who reportedly refused to cooperate with them on arrival at the bank
It was gathered that the robbers trailed some cash that were deposited in the banks, in view of last Saturday’s elections.
The six robbers were shot dead by policemen who engaged them in a shootout that lasted for two hours. The two women police and one of their seniors were shot dead at the police station on arrival by the robbers who destroyed the station with gunshots.
Some vehicles, including that of the Divisional Police Officer of the station, was taken away but later recovered hours later after by the police.
Twenty three assorted fire arms, including 9000rounds of ammunition, 11 dynamites, 100 magazines, ten smoke hand grenade, three steel helments, police berets and uniforms, nine exotic vehicles, were recovered from the robbers.
The Commissioner of Police, Isaac Eke, confirmed that the had command received information that armed men numbering over fifty in several vehicles, wielding sophisticated weapons, had invaded the state.
The CP said the robbers took over the police stations and four banks According to him, a formidable reinforcement, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police from Akure, the state capital, in charge of operations was dispatched.
“After intense and protracted exchange of fire with the robbers, one of them was arrested alive, while six others lost their lives from gun shot wounds,” he said.
Eke added that one Sony video camera with which the robbers recorded their dastardly act by themselves were equally recovered. Eke vowed to arrest those that “managed to escape with bullet wounds towards the boundary of Ondo with Edo/Kogi states.’’ (News Express, Vanguard).