Ondo State bank robberies:Firstbank, Wema, Skye, Eco and Keystone banks count losses

*19 AK47 rifles missing after robberies

IGP, Suleiman Abba

Bank robbers who used dynamites to blow up Firstbank, Wema, Skye, Eco and Keystone banks, also carted away 19 AK47 rifles belonging to the police, new information says.



Police authorities in Ondo State confirmed the stolen guns, adding that the missing guns were discovered after last week’s invasion of the Ikare-Akoko Police Station in Akoko North East Local Government Area.

Four of the rifles were taken from the policemen who were killed on First Bank premises on Jubilee Road in Ikare-Akoko while the other 15 were stolen when the bandits attacked a police station at Igbede on Owo Road.

It will recalled that the bank robbers stormed Ikare-Akoko last Tuesday and killed about 20 persons, among them eight policemen. Eye witnesses later said that the movie like operation  lasted over an  hour.

It was further gathered that, contrary to available fact that two banks were raided, fresh facts revealed that about five banks were stormed, attacked and their vaults raided. 

The banks are: First Bank, Wemabank,  Keystone bank, Syke Bank and Eco Bank, and stole an undisclosed amount of money.

Apparently not satisfied with robbing the banks of money, the gunmen had also made away with official cars of the banks.

The witness said after about one hour operation, bodies littered the street.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo, said in a statement that 15 people, among them five policemen were shot dead.

He said: “The incident of the bank robbery and attack on the police station at Ikare was a sad incident. The attack was sudden and coordinated.

“They used General Purpose Machine guns, improvised explosive devices and other sophisticated weapons. They came in large number and syndicated themselves. The group of 25 armed men, which attacked Ikare Police Station, came on foot through unfenced part of the station.

“The station guards engaged them but were outnumbered with introduction of sophisticated weapons which made them to retreat. They demobilised the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) at the station by shooting at the tyres because it was not bullet proof.

“Two male civilians were killed at the station. The robbers vandalised the entire station. The other group raided five banks - First Bank, Wema, Skye, Eco and Keystone banks - and carted away unspecified amount.

“We lost five policemen attached to Fast Strike Squad that ran into the hoodlums. The hoodlums fled when they saw the two APCs dispatched from neighbouring divisions and demobilised them by firing at their tyres.

“They began to shoot at innocent people as they were escaping.”

Ogodo added that the targeted Fist Bank bullion van on special escort with N25 million was saved by the police escort.

He said: “Eleven civilians were killed by hoodlums in the attacked. Two undetonated devices were recovered at the scene. High profile investigation has been instituted and frantic efforts are on to track down the hoodlums.”