The Police in Ondo State have promised tough times for armed robbers and other criminals in the state following revelations that six of the seven robbers that raided some commercial banks in Owo recently were killed and about N9million recovered from them. DAMISI OJO reports.
Though the dust is settling gradually on the recent bank robbery that shook Owo town in Ondo State, facts have emerged that no fewer than six of the seven armed robbers involved in the operation were gunned down by the police.
The seventh member of the gang was also arrested by the police who also recovered about N9million from the robbers.
No fewer than 20 persons including the manager of one of the four banks raided by the robbers were killed during the robbery attack which took place penultimate Thursday and shook the ancient town to its foundation.
Sources told The Nation that the men of the underworld struck around 4 pm on the fateful day and robbed four different commercial banks in the town in almost total impunity, killing their victims at random. But they met their match in the police who appeared on the scene not too long after.
As they made to escape, the special anti robbery squad from the state police command arrived the town and engaged the robbers killing six of them. The seventh member was arrested.
But while their operation lasted, the robbers turned the town into a ghost of itself as residents were forced to stay indoors to avoid being caught in any crossfire..
Those living near the banks where the robbers operated moved to other parts of the town apparently for fear of attack by the evil men.
The victims of the robbery incident were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Owo where many of them later gave up the ghost, while some are still responding to medical treatment.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr Isaac Eke who spoke through the Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Mr Wole Ogodo said the Police swooped into action immediately they were alerted about the robbery incident.
He noted that the efforts of the Police led to the recovery of some amount of money with various arms and ammunition used by the robbers during their operation, adding that the working synergy in the Police assisted them to track down one of the suspect.
He confirmed that six of the robbers were killed by the policemen deployed to the town by the police command and their corpses already in the custody of the Police.
Also, Mr Eke who paraded the deceased armed robbers at the state Police headquarters in Akure hinted that the Police are already interrogating the only surviving suspect arrested in connection with the incident, adding that he was helping the Police in their investigations.
The Police boss disclosed further that three cars used by the armed robbers during the robbery operation were also seized by the Police, while a huge sum of money totaling almost N9million was recovered from the suspected robbers when the Police attacked them.
He said the Police in the state would continue to protect the lives and properties of the people adding that “there cannot be any hidden place for armed robbers in Ondo state with the efforts put in place by the Police in the state”.
