Armed Robbers attack Offa, many killed
Many people including police men, traders and bank customers, have been killed by a gang of armed robbers who invaded commercial banks in Offa town in Kwara state, carting away cash in different currencies.
Reports say the robbers, who operated for about an hour, entered the town around 4:45pm and operated till about 5:40pm as they first reportedly blocked roads from both Ilorin and Osogbo ends of the town.
The robbers, who escaped with large amount of money carted from the commercial banks escaped through Igosun area of the town.
Eye witnesses said the armed robbers first approached the Offa divisional police station on entering the ancient town, killing policemen on duty among other people at the station, before raiding the commercial banks and killing people by shooting them in the head.
Among the police men killed by the armed robbers was a man identified as Pelemo, who was expected to retire in a few months and a pregnant police woman.
An eyewitness said that at least six dead policemen were taken out of the police station, while efforts were being made to bring out others inside the station.
It was also gathered that the bandits, numbered at least 15, came in different vehicles as they stationed themselves at strategic areas of the town, as it was reported that they also snatched commercial motorcycles to operate and escape.
It was learnt that the general hospital, Offa, where the injured victims were taken, was already over populated by those who sustained different degrees of injury and gun wounds.
Spokesman for the Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the bank robbery, said details on the bank robbery would be made after a full investigation of the incident.