By Chisaa Okoye
The police in Osun state have commenced a manhunt for the daredevil gang that killed seven persons on Wednesday during attempted robberies at Access Bank and First Bank branches in Ikire and Apomu Towns on Wednesday.
The State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, gave the marching order to officers and men of the Command on Thursday, to spread their dragnet to Osun and environs to ensure the fleeing bandits were apprehended.
Some yet – to – be identified gunmen, numbering about 35, who operated in about five vehicles on Wednesday, killed four police personnel and three others in the attempted bank robberies in Ikire and Apomu Towns.
The police said the bandits also attacked Ikire divisional police headquarters and the armoured personnel carrier pinned down at Ikoyi, Osun with several explosive devices.
The Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, a Suprintendent of Police, said in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo, that two police officers and two special constables were killed during the robbery attacks.
The statement added: “They also opened several gun fires (sic) in a bid to subdue the capacity of the police while attempting to rob First Bank at Ikire and Access Bank at Apomu, respectively.
“On sighting the overwhelming policemen, comprising the Prompt Response Unit (PRU), CP’s Surveillance Team, IRT Operatives, STS, 39 PMF, JTF, along with the local security outfits, who swiftly engaged them in a fierce gun duel.”
“While escaping, they shot sporadically, and regrettably, four policemen and three civilians were shot. They did not, however, succeed in robbing any of the banks. The assailants fled to the bush with gunshot wounds, abandoning two of the operational vehicles they came with.
“All the corpses of those killed have been deposited at the Oluyoro Catholic Hospital morgue, Apomu. Effort is ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” the police explained.