Gunmen loot bank in Ondo, kill female staff

A commercial bank in Iju town, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, was on Tuesday attacked by suspected armed robbers who killed a female and carted away an undisclosed amount of money.

According to reports, the gunmen attacked the bank located along the Akure-Ado Ekiti expressway, around 2:30 p.m. and started shooting discriminately.

A source, who witnessed the attacked, said the robbers appeared from Ado Ekiti end of the expressway and headed straight to the bank.

The source added that the robbery operation lasted for over 30 minutes without any intervention from security agents, though the bank is located less than a kilometre to the Iju Divisional Police Station.

The source said: “When they entered into the town, there were gunshots everywhere around the bank area. The residents of the area had to run for safety.

“On entering into the premises of the bank, the robbers blew up the bank’s bullet-proof door with dynamite to gain entrance into the banking hall after which they stole money.”

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Another eyewitness said the robbers shot dead the female official immediately they entered into the premises of the bank

He said: “Three people were the victims of the robbery attack; one female bank worker, one customer and other people in the banking hall. The banker worker died instantly while the others were injured.

“The robbers went away with three big bags full of money and drove towards Ado Ekiti.”

Confirming the development, the Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Joseph, said the men of the command were already on their trail.

“We can confirm that one person died in the operation. Our men engaged them in a shoot-out, they had to abandon the vehicle they brought to the area and ran into the bush.

“Our men are already combing the bush and I am sure they would be arrested. We have commenced an investigation into the incident.” Joseph said.

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