Armed men kill three in Ilesa bank robbery

No fewer than three persons were Tuesday feared dead in Ilesa, a commercial town in Osun State, when a gang of armed robbers invaded a branch of a first generation bank located in Isokun area of the town.

An eyewitness told our correspondent after the robbery that the armed robbers destroyed the metal detector door with explosives before they gained access into the banking hall where they carted away millions of naira meant for the payment of the monthly allowance of the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) volunteers and other money deposited in the bank.

The robbery incident caused pandemonium in the town as traders at the popular Atakumosa Market ran helter-skelter as they scampered for safety. It was gathered that the armed robbers shot sporadically into the air during the operation and, in the process, stray bullets hit several people along the Osogbo/Ilesa road while the criminals made their getaway.

A resident of the area said a mobile policeman confronted the armed robbers and engaged them in a gun duel as they tried to escape, but he was overpowered due to the large number of the armed men.

“The armed robbers would have been stopped if that brave mobile policeman was assisted on time,” the man said. “Apparently, the residents of the area were angry with other policemen who refused to show up. Therefore, immediately the armed robbers escaped, an angry mob attacked the policemen and harassed them.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Solomon Olusegun, who confirmed the incident, said he had not been properly briefed by the Police Area Commander in Ilesa.

Most of the victims of the robbery were taken to the Wesley Guild Hospital for treatment.