Five killed in Ondo, Ekiti robbery attacks

AS political violence continues to claim many lives across the land, gunmen again struck in Ondo and Ekiti states yesterday.

At the end of the operations, five persons lay dead: three in Ondo and two in Ekiti.

Suspected armed robbers struck in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, where they attacked a new generation bank and killed three people in the process.

The robbers, numbering about 10, struck about 10a.m. on a day the campaign train of the Labour Party (LP) moved to the Northern Senatorial District and Governor Olusegun Mimiko and party faithful were billed to visit Ikare at noon.

No fewer than seven people were also said to have been injured in the incident that lasted for about one hour.

Eyewitnesses said the robbers, who came in two vehicles, stormed the Ilepa area of the town and attempted to gain entry into three banks in the area.

The incident threw the entire community into pandemonium as the robbers shot sporadically into the air.

They reportedly forcefully gained entry into a new generation bank and carted away an undisclosed amount of money.



But, the claim that two banks were raided could not be confirmed. The police in the town were said to have responded late to distress calls of the people.

The ever-busy Ilepa Road was deserted during the period, as traders hurriedly closed down their shops, while motorists cleared off the road to avoid stray bullets.

Although some eyewitness accounts revealed that the robbers carried out their dastardly act unchallenged, but another account said that men of the Nigeria Police met the robbers, while attempting to escape from the bank and engaged them in a gun duel. They, however escaped with their loot.

However, the police spokesman in the state, Aremu Adeniran, said only one person died in the incident, while others were injured.

Aremu explained that men of the command responded swiftly to the distress call and engaged the robbers in a shoot out, saying that some of them sustained injuries but managed to escape.

He noted that the police are still on the trail of the robbers and making frantic efforts to arrest them, promising that “we will get them”.

The police image-maker added that a few customers and passers-by, who sustained injuries as a result of gunshots have been taken to private hospitals for urgent medical treatment

In Ekiti State, gunmen also struck in Iropora, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state, and left Toyin Akinlade, the Organising Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state and one night guard, Lawrence Adebayo (70) dead.

Akinlade, who was reported to have been killed by Wednesday night, was said to be a wholesaler of different kinds of beer at Ilogbo-Ekiti, where he was reportedly tricked out of his home and later killed in the process.

The State Police Command spokesman, Mohammed Jimoh, however, confirmed that one person was killed in Ilogbo-Ekiti, on Tuesday night, adding that the command is still investigating the matter.

Besides, the Nigerian Compass learnt that four students of the School of Health Technology, Ijero-Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, were kidnapped and released yesterday.

They were abducted on Ara/Awo road.

The police also confirmed that the students have been released, saying information got to them that some of them were drugged before they were kidnapped.
Jimoh said a vigilance group and members of the public were instrumental in rescuing the students from their abductors.

Reacting to the kidnap, the Provost of the college, Dr. Francis Ibikunle, said the students adducted have been rescued and they are in stable condition.

Ibikunle noted the four female and one male students have since gone to the hospital for medical check-up after the incident.


By David Akinjagunla, Akure & Raphael Ogbonnaiye, Ado-Ekiti

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