In what can be regarded as a show of terror, the people of Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government was left in a sorrowful mood as arm robbers stormed the town in two Sienna buses around 6pm yesterday, November 3.
According to a report on PM News, the robbers at arrival took over the police station where they killed two policemen before proceeding to the bank where they allegedly destroyed the entrance of one of the banks.
On getting to the bank, a private security man and a commercial motorcycle rider on duty were immediately shot dead at the gate, while two persons suspected to be customers apparently using the ATM were allegedly shot dead in the premises of the bank.
The robbers will however run out of luck as the vigilante groups in the community were signalled and immediately moved to barricade the exit route of the town, along Ekpedo-Ekpe road, close to the border with Kogi state.
Alert of what had been plotted, one of the robbers made attempts to escape but was reportedly gunned down while another was arrested as one of their vehicles impounded.
Speaking on phone to newsmen in Benin, the leader of the vigilante group on condition of anonymity confirmed the killing of one of the robbers and the arrest of another.
He said: “When they started the operation in Igarra, we quickly mobilised our people around the surrounding villages because they came through Lampese to Ososo and down to Igarra and they were also going back through the axis passing through Enwan and our men barricaded their route and there was exchange of gunfire. One of them was killed; another was arrested while many escaped with gunshot wounds. They also impounded one of the vehicles they used.
“However the porous security situation in our community must be addressed as all the entry points to Igarra from all flanks are open, we need more security in this place, we have been abandoned to our fate.”
Chris Ezike, Edo state Commissioner of Police, also confirmed the incident, to The Punch on telephone that one of the suspects had been arrested.
He also said that the police recovered a total sum of N4,452,500, 11 AK47 rifles and 39 unexploded IEDs.
Ezike said: “I can also confirm that one of the robbers has been arrested. One died in a gunfire exchange. Eleven AK47 rifles were recovered; I have just finished a press conference in Igarra now.
“We have also recovered N4,452,500 from them. We have recovered 41 AK47 magazines, 39 improvised explosive devices, unexploded and we recovered assorted ammunition.”
The attack in Edo state comes just days after an unidentified woman was robbed in Iyana Oworo area of Lagos state, and pictures from the incident surfaced online.
According to a report on PM News, the robbers at arrival took over the police station where they killed two policemen before proceeding to the bank where they allegedly destroyed the entrance of one of the banks.
On getting to the bank, a private security man and a commercial motorcycle rider on duty were immediately shot dead at the gate, while two persons suspected to be customers apparently using the ATM were allegedly shot dead in the premises of the bank.
The robbers will however run out of luck as the vigilante groups in the community were signalled and immediately moved to barricade the exit route of the town, along Ekpedo-Ekpe road, close to the border with Kogi state.
Alert of what had been plotted, one of the robbers made attempts to escape but was reportedly gunned down while another was arrested as one of their vehicles impounded.
Speaking on phone to newsmen in Benin, the leader of the vigilante group on condition of anonymity confirmed the killing of one of the robbers and the arrest of another.
He said: “When they started the operation in Igarra, we quickly mobilised our people around the surrounding villages because they came through Lampese to Ososo and down to Igarra and they were also going back through the axis passing through Enwan and our men barricaded their route and there was exchange of gunfire. One of them was killed; another was arrested while many escaped with gunshot wounds. They also impounded one of the vehicles they used.
“However the porous security situation in our community must be addressed as all the entry points to Igarra from all flanks are open, we need more security in this place, we have been abandoned to our fate.”
Chris Ezike, Edo state Commissioner of Police, also confirmed the incident, to The Punch on telephone that one of the suspects had been arrested.
He also said that the police recovered a total sum of N4,452,500, 11 AK47 rifles and 39 unexploded IEDs.
Ezike said: “I can also confirm that one of the robbers has been arrested. One died in a gunfire exchange. Eleven AK47 rifles were recovered; I have just finished a press conference in Igarra now.
“We have also recovered N4,452,500 from them. We have recovered 41 AK47 magazines, 39 improvised explosive devices, unexploded and we recovered assorted ammunition.”
The attack in Edo state comes just days after an unidentified woman was robbed in Iyana Oworo area of Lagos state, and pictures from the incident surfaced online.
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