Two killed, many injured in Ekiti bank robbery

There was panic in Okemesi on Christmas Eve in Ekiti
West Local Government Area of Ekiti State when a
nine-man armed robbery gang attacked an old
generation bank. Two persons were killed in the
process.
The hoodlums also carted away millions of naira and
injured scores of residents in an orgy of shooting that
lasted almost an hour.
The two persons shot dead included a private security
guard said to be in his late 30s. His name was given
as Matthew and a carpenter, Ayo Alawode (53).
One of the robbers was also reportedly shot dead by an
unidentified member of the community, which angered
the robbers who unleashed a shooting spree.
The robbery attack soured Christmas celebrations as
many residents couldn’t go to the church on Friday to
mark the festival while the community was calm on
yesterday.
One of the robbers reportedly disguised on arrival as a
resident and joined others at a newsstand close to the
bank to observe the scene before other members of
the gang arrived in a Toyota Sienna space bus.
The gang announced their arrival with several
gunshots to the air at about 5.30 pm and blew off the
bank security door with explosives which made them
to gain access into the baking hall.
An eyewitness told reporters in Ado Ekiti, the state
capital, that bank customers who queued up at the
Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery were marched
into the banking hall by four of the robbers while the
remaining gang members stood guard outside.
Activities at the town’s main market which were
already in full swing for last-minute Christmas
purchases were disrupted as buyers and sellers
scampered to safety as gunshots rent the air.
When the robbers learnt that one of them had been
killed, they continued shooting anyone in sight and it
was at this point that Alawode who owned a shop
located outside the bank was hit in the head. He died
instantly.
The security guard was said to have died while being
taken to the hospital for medical attention.
At least ten persons who were wounded in the orgy of
the shooting unleashed by the robbers have been
rushed to a teaching hospital in a nearby state.
The source said: “Immediately those in the bank hall
realized that one of them had been shot, they thought
it was done by a policeman and they quickly ran out.
“When they got outside and knew that the police were
yet to arrive, they immediately shot the carpenter and
the security guard. This provided the opportunity for
the customers held hostage to escape.
“We made efforts to call policemen at Ijero Ekiti, but
they didn’t come in time, same to soldiers at Itawure
Junction. Though, they later came after the robbers
had escaped through Ijero road,” he said.
Ekiti police command spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi,
confirmed the killing of the two persons during the
robbery operation. He added that the command has
launched investigation and expressed confidence that
the culprits will be arrested “very soon.”