Ekiti State witnessed another devastating attack by suspected robbers who besieged one of its major towns, Otun-Ekiti, where they attacked two commercial banks, Oore’s palace, church and petrol station, among others. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA examines the havoc wreaked by the attack.
It was a harrowing experience for residents of Otun-Ekiti, headquarters of Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Thursday, November 10. They were waiting for the sun to set before they retire to their various homes. But before the sun finally set, they were shocked by the attack on some institutions in the town by suspected robbers.
Most of the residents had concluded the businesses of the day and were heading home after a hard day’s job. Commercial activities were at the low ebb except vehicles conveying intra and inter-state passengers angling to reach their destinations.
Some fun spots such as hotels, pubs and other relaxation centres had been playing host to some residents who had wanted to unwind to calm frayed nerves.
However, they had no inkling that violence of unprecedented proportion from the messengers of death was lurking around the corner. They never knew that the serenity enjoyed by the relatively big town was about to be shattered by some bloodthirsty fiends.
Few minutes past six in the evening, the unwanted visitors unleashed their fury on the unsuspecting residents and by the time the smoke cleared, at least four persons lay dead, millions of Naira carted away in a commando-like operation.
The hoodlums attacked two commercial banks, the palace of the monarch and a petrol station; an action that threw the town into chaos. Residents ran for their dear lives in a chaotic manner. Fear overwhelmed the community.
This was followed by loud bangs of explosion and booms of guns. Traffic disappeared and frightened residents ran for cover. Throughout the time the attack lasted, there was nobody in sight to confront the hoodlums.
It was like Armageddon had descended on the town with beleaguered residents finding no help when they needed it most.
Policemen allegedly fled in various directions as they were unable to face the bandits. This was despite the fact that the police divisional headquarter was about a kilometre away from the theatre of violence, the central business district of the town.
The robbers did not spare hallowed structures as they fired explosives to the Oore’s Palace which claimed the palace guard and the Seventh Day Adventist Church which is one of the oldest places of worship in the town.
The four dead persons included a bank manager, bank security officer who was to wed in a week’s time and a night guard at the Oore’s Palace.
The two banks attacked were the town’s branches of Heritage Bank and Unity Bank located at the centre of the town. Heritage Bank branch lost the manager and a cashier in the incident while a security man at Unity Bank was shot dead.
The banks had closed at the time of the attack but bankers were said to be busy reconciling and balancing accounts. They were looking forward to another working day.
Sources revealed that the dead bank security guard had just resumed for work that evening. His soon-to-be wedded wife is said to be heavily pregnant and their wedding had been fixed for about a week’s time.
The robbers, who are believed to be more than 30 in number were said to have divided themselves into four sub-gangs to ensure that the attack was successful.
The bandits reportedly made away with huge amount of money seized from the banks and the petrol station. Many residents of the community who received gunshot wounds are receiving treatment in various hospitals.
The Otun robbery sent shock waves round the state as branches of Heritage Bank and Unity Bank were closed down. Some vehicles bound for Otun same day discharged their passengers after the news had spread.
Otun is a major town in Ekiti State and is a commercial centre close to both Kwara and Osun states. Its banking services are enjoyed by communities in the two neighbouring states that find it inconvenient to go to the hinterland of their states for transactions.
The Oore of Otun, who is also the Paramount Ruler of Moba land, Oba James Adedapo Oladele Popoola, said he thought Boko Haram militants had invaded the town when he heard loud bangs of explosives used by the robbers during the attack which lasted about an hour.
Oba Popoola said: ”It happened about few minutes past 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. I was relaxing with my chiefs in front of the palace when we heard what first sounded like some fireworks and we dismissed it as some of the children’s antics as a result of the festive period.
“But later we heard heavier and more shocking sounds that resembled gunshots and explosives. That was when we realised it was no child’s play.
“Sounds of gunshots and explosives were all over the place and heard from all corners. I couldn’t situate the incident as we ruminated whether it was robbery, attack by Boko Haram insurgents or some kind of war happening.
“We later learnt that the robbers mounted their men at the four outlets into the town. First was the roundabout at Erinmope Road, second was outside Moba Local Government Secretariat, third was in front of my palace and the fourth was in front of the Technical College outside the town on the way leading to Kwara.
”The intermittent gunshots and explosives lasted for about an hour before the dust settled. And by the time it settled, four innocent lives were lost. The Manager and cashier of Heritage Bank, security man at Unity Bank and my night guard who had just resumed for night duty and wanted to close the gate were the victims.
“I reported the case to the governor and he immediately mobilised the security operatives who promptly heeded to the governor’s instruction and came around past 7:00 p.m. but the robbers had left before they came.”
While noting that it was the first time a major bank robbery was recorded in Otun, the Oore said the town was prone to the attack because of its location as a border community with neighbouring states.
The monarch added: “The border towns and local government areas should be provided with very tight security so that such incident would not happen again. Government should put in more effort in seeing to the protection of lives and property.”
A resident who asked not to be named because of security reasons alleged that policemen also ran for cover during the attack, adding that the palace guard who was killed was closing the palace gate when he was felled by the bullets.
He said: “The Oba’s guard killed was shot in his private part. He was closing the Oba’s gate when one of the robbers rushed towards him and rained bullets on him. The man who is to get married in two weeks’ time and the Oba’s guard hailed from Mayan, a suburb of Otun.
“Even policemen ran for save their lives. We saw a Sergeant who ran far more than every other who scampered for safety during the attack. The one killed in Unity Bank has just two weeks to his wedding. His wife is heavily pregnant. We also learnt that the slain Bank Manager resumed just 20 minutes before the robbers attacked.”
Spokesman of Ekiti State police command, Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the incident, revealed that investigation into the robbery incident has commenced.
Adeyemi further said the remains of the four persons killed have been deposited at the General Hospital in Usi Ekiti.
He said: “We have commenced investigations into the development and hope that the perpetrators would soon be apprehended.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, has condemned the robbery attack at two banks in Otun, pleading with authorities to make more policemen available in the state.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, on Friday, Oluwawole, who commiserated with the families of the victims of the robbery attack and the Oore, Oba Popoola, prayed that God would console the people of Otun and the entire Moba Kingdom.
The Speaker, who represents Moba Constituency 1 which included Otun also appealed to the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to consider making more men of the force available to the state. He stated that the current government would not treat security of lives and property of its people with levity.
“The incident is sad. We do not take the security of the lives and property of our people with levity.
