The Osun State Police Command has confirmed that seven persons were killed in the bank robbery in Apomu and Ikire yesterday.
Yemisi Opalola, spokesman for Osun State Police Command, in a statement said the robbers, numbering about 35, came in about five vehicles and simultaneously attacked the areas with explosive devices and guns.
She said the attack on the police station was to ease their robbery of the two banks.
“It was unfortunate that ASP Osho Oluranti, Inspector Lekan Olalere, two special constabularies, namely: Oladeni Olalekan and Oyedeji Muyideen, were shot dead in the process.
“On sighting the overwhelming policemen comprising the Prompt Response Unit, the 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 civilians were shot, namely: Toheeb Oyebola, Temilorun Adebiyi and one other, whose identity is not yet known.”
Opalola said the robbers fled with gunshot wounds and abandoned two of their operational vehicles.
She said that the remains of the deceased persons had been deposited in the Oluyoro Catholic Hospital Morgue, Apomu, while efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing hoodlums.
It would be recalled that armed robbers attacked branches of First Bank and Access Bank in Apomu and Ikire on Wednesday and targeted a bullion van bringing cash to the banks.
But hey allegedly missed their target as policemen, OPC members and local hunters repelled them before the bullion van arrived in the town.
Even so, the hoodlums damaged the banks and police stations with explosive devices.