Igarra Akoko Edo State Bank Robbery : 6 Killed, Police Arrests Robber, Recovers Stolen Money

At least 6 people including a motorcyclist and two bank customers
have been reportedly killed in a bank robbery attack at Igarra,
Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
It was learnt that the robbers stormed the town in two Toyota
Sienna buses at about 6pm on Tuesday, where some of them
reportedly attacked a police station in the area and killed two
policemen.
The others were said to have raided a new generation bank
nearby, reportedly destroyed the entry with explosives and
carted away an undisclosed sum of money.
The motorcyclist, bank customers and a private security man were
also said to have been shot dead in the bank premises.
Two banks, Unity Bank and Keystone Bank, were said to be located
in the affected town and situated opposite each other, along
Momomodu Ajayi road.
It was, however, not clear which of the banks was attacked and
whether money was carted away.
It was also learnt that the the incident has created fear and
mourning in the affected community, with some residents lamenting
what they described as inadequate security in the area.
However, our correspondent learnt that the robbers were later
confronted and one of them killed by vigilance groups, who were
said to have mobilised and barricaded their exit route, along Ekpedo-
Ekpe road, an area bordering Kogi State.
One of the vehicles said to have been used by the robbers was
also reportedly seized by the local security groups.
A leader of a vigilance group in the area, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said many of the robbers escaped with bullet wounds.
The vigilante leader said, “When they started the operation in
Igarra, we quickly mobilised our people around the surrounding
villages, because they (robbers) came through Lampese to Ososo
and down to Igarra and they were also going back through the axis
passing through Enwan.
“Our men barricaded their route and there was exchange of gunfire.
One of them was killed, another was arrested while many escaped
with gunshot wounds. They (vigilante) also impounded one of the
vehicles they used.”
But the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who
confirmed the incident, told our correspondent on the telephone
that one of the suspects had been arrested.
He also said that the police recovered a total sum
of N4,452,500, 11 AK47 rifles and 39 unexploded IEDs.
Ezike said, “I can also confirm that one of the robbers has been
arrested. One died in a gunfire exchange. Eleven AK47 rifles were
recovered; I have just finished a press conference in Igarra now.
“We have also recovered N4,452,500 from them. We have recovered
41 AK47 magazines, 39 improvised explosive devices, unexploded
and we recovered assorted ammunition.”