Armed robbers invaded Ikire and Apomu towns in Irewole and Isokan Local Government Areas of Osun State, killing three police personnel, two members of special constabulary and three civilians on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
The operations were carried out simultaneously at First Bank in Ikire, Access Bank in Apomu and the police station at about 6:10 p.m.
The armed men, numbering about 35, had come in five vehicles and attacked the police station, shooting sporadically and throwing dynamites at its building.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police, an Inspector, the police guard at Access Bank, two special constabularies and three civilians became casualties as they were shot to death.
“I know of two people who died in the incident. They were at the ATM points where they were hit by stray bullets,” a witness who pleaded anonymity because of fear of attack told newsmen.
Also, an elderly woman, who refused to disclose her name, said that members of her household were forced to quickly lock the doors and lie down to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
She added that they heard the sound of expended shells of ammunition falling from the roof house.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday.
“Gentlemen of the press, it is true that there was attempted bank robbery in Ikire/Apomu on Wednesday June 2, 2021, at about 6.10 pm.
“The armed robbers, numbering about 35, came in about five vehicles, simultaneously attacked Ikire Divisional Police Headquarters and the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) pinned down at Ikoyi-Osun with several explosive devices and several gun firing, in a bid to subdue the capacity of the police while attempting to rob First Bank, Ikire and Access Bank, Apomu respectively.
“It is unfortunate that ASP Osho Oluranti, Inspector Lekan Olalere, two Special Constabularies, namely Oladeni Olalekan and Oyedeji Muyideen were shot dead in the process.
“On sighting the overwhelming policemen comprising Prompt Response Unit (PRU), CP’s surveillance team, Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives, STS, 39 PMF, JTF, along with the local cecurity outfits, who swiftly engaged them in a fierce gun duel, the robbers began to flee.
“While escaping, they shot sporadically, and, regrettably, three civilians were shot namely Toheeb Oyebola, Temilorun Adebiyi and one other, (whose identity is not yet known), all males.”
However, the PPRO said, the armed robbers did not succeed robbing any of the banks, as they fled to the bush with gunshot wounds, abandoning two of the operational vehicles they came with.
“All the corpses have been deposited at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital morgue, Apomu. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” Opalola stated.
Thenewsbearer learnt that the late ASP was in charge of the APC and was by the vehicle when the armed men arrived and pumped bullets into him.
It was further gathered that the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode was at the police station and the banks till early Thursday morning, to assess the damages and boost the morale of the police personnel and residents.
