Robbery: Five policemen, two others killed in Ogun

BANDITS yesterday struck in Abeokuta and Ibafo areas of Ogun State, killing five policemen and two others in two robbery incidents.

While three policemen attached to the Quick Response Squad (QRS) of the state command were shot dead at Ijemo-Agbadu area of Abeokuta, two others were killed near World Oil Filling Station in Ibafo area, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Two people, including a 12-year-old sachet water hawker, were also said to have lost their lives in the Ibafo incident while two policemen also sustained critical injuries in the Abeokuta robbery.

The Nigerian Compass learnt that the bandits, numbering about 15, stormed an Apostolic Church located at Ijemo-Agbadu area of Abeokuta about 2.30 a.m. and began a raid on the church premises.

Sources said following distress calls, a team of policemen rushed to the scene.
But on sighting them, the armed robbers allegedly opened fire on the policemen, leading to the instant death of two officers.

The third policeman in the QRS team was said to have died on the way to hospital.
An unspecified amount of money and other valuables were said to have been carted away in the incident.

It was learnt that the same robbery gang had earlier operated near World Oil Filling Station in Ibafo, killing two policemen in the area.

A source said the Ibafo robbery took place about 8.30 p.m. on Sunday with the victims losing huge sums of money.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, saying the Ibafo and Abeokuta incidents were carried out by the same gang.

Adejobi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), disclosed that one suspect had already been arrested by the police in connection with the robbery.

He said the injured officers had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta for treatment.

"The gang had before the Ibafo and Abeokuta incidents snatched a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and with that, they attacked an hotel located at Abiola Way, Abeokuta before heading to the Apostolic Church Vicarage at Ijemo Agbadu area of the town where they killed the three policemen and injured two others," Adejobi added.

The police spokesman said the command had launched investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

He, however, restated the commitment of the command towards providing adequate security for lives and property in the state.

The Compass