Update:Armed Robbers Raid Banks , Kill 25 Persons, Policemen In Offa

Twenty five persons have been killed and several others injured after suspected robbers attacked a popular commercial bank in Offa, Kwara State.

A resident of the area, who gave her name as Bosun, said that no security personnel confronted the robbers throughout the operation.

The robbers, she said, shot sporadically forcing residents and businesses to close shop in the Sanni Aba area of the town.

“Those of us close to the banks were indoors, while some were taking cover elsewhere. Heavy gunshots were heard and dynamites were being used.

“The operation lasted for more than one hour. When we went out after the operation, four persons were already killed,” the source told our reporter on Thursday.

It was gathered that the bandits, who operated for about an hour, entered the town around 4:45pm and operated till about 5:40pm as they first reportedly blocked roads from both Ilorin and Osogbo ends.

The hoodlums, who escaped with unspecified amount of money carted from the commercial banks, also reportedly made their escape through Igosun area of the town.

Solacebase learnt that the armed bandits first approached the Offa divisional police station on entering the ancient town, killing policemen on duty among other people at the station, before raiding the commercial banks and killing people by shooting them in the head.

Among the police men killed by the armed robbers was a man identified as Pelemo, who was expected to retire in a few months and a pregnant police woman.

The police public relations officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, who confirmed the bank raid, said that victims included policeman and other individuals.

He said that details on the bank robbery would be made after a full investigation on the incident.