Dare devil robbers, Thursday evening reportedly invaded Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government area of Edo state and attempted to rob the two banks in the town; Unity Bank and keystone Bank and in the process, not less than 12 persons including a policeman were feared killed.
Also among those reportedly killed in the police station were two detainees who were said to have been arrested yesterday morning for minor offences; one of them was reportedly arrested for incomplete vehicle particulars.
As at the time of this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said information about the attack was still sketchy and would release more details later.
The armed men had first attacked the police station which is about 1.2 kilometre from the banks apparently to demobilise the only means of neutralising their act where they burnt the official vehicle of the newly posted Area Commander and killed a policeman.
Three other persons near the police station were also reportedly killed.
At least four other persons were reportedly killed within the premises of the two banks apparently in anger as it was gathered that the armed men could not get access to the vault of the banks.
One of the youths in the community Ofei Obende said they tried to resist the robbers but were overpowered by their firepower but said that the police in the banks had exchange of gunfire which he said was responsible for the death of the three unidentifiable bodies.
He said another unknown person was caught in the cross fire and could help police in their investigation.
The Palace Secretary to the paramount ruler of the community, Otaru of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania who confirmed the incident and added that “ This is a serious case, armed robbers have besieged Igarra so many lives killed, ten dead persons have been counted. The police station set ablaze, the Area Commander’s new car set ablaze because we have an area commander now, then close to the police station, three people were killed and in the banks too; Keystone and Unity Banks many persons were killed and the banks raided, it is a calamity.
“In all, ten lives have gone. They could not access the strong room of the banks. The people that were killed in bank were outside the bank premises. Four persons killed within the bank premises, a policeman killed in the police station then a stone throw from the police station, three persons were killed, the car of the new area commander was set ablaze. Igarra is in a war scene, I am right at the police station.
It would be recalled that six persons were killed in similar manner in November 2015 when armed robbers invaded the community.
