Four policemen, two civilians feared killed as armed robbers attack bullion van in Ibadan
Seven persons, including four policemen are believed to have lost their lives, Thursday afternoon, after armed robbers attacked a bullion van, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The dead victims were mostly those attached to the bullion as armed police escorts or staff of the bank accompanying the van.
State Governor, Seyi Makinde, while confirming the incident via his verified Twitter handle (@seyiamakinde), sympathised with those who lost their loved ones in the incident.
“I received the sad news of the robbery attack at the Idi-Ape axis of Ibadan which resulted in death and injuries of residents. The security agencies are investigating the incident.
“I pray that the souls of the dead rest in peace and ask that we keep their families in our prayers,” said Governor Makinde, Thursday.
Eyewitness account say the attack occurred at the Idi-Ape area of Ibadan, close to Agodi Police Area Command as the bullion van had stopped at a traffic light in the area when the robbers attacked, shooting straight into the police escort truck and civilian passengers of the accompanying cars.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, while providing a brief on the incident at the scene of the attack in Idi-Ape, said two policemen were killed, while the robbers lost one of their colleagues.
“I can’t say much for now until we have fully completed our assessment of the incident, but what I can tell you for now is that the armed robbers shot two of our policemen escorting the bullion van on the leg. They were at the back of the truck escorting the bullion van. But our men also killed one of the robbers, and funny enough they took away the body of their colleagues when fleeing the scene,” she said.
The Police Area commander at Iwo road is just 2 minutes drive from the scene of the incident in Idi-Ape.