Armed Robbers Raid Banks In Ogun Using Dynamites

Armed bandits again struck in Sabo  Ajegunle, in  Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun state, Thursday. They attacked four banks with dynamites and carted away a huge amount of money.

There were speculations that no fewer than 12 people might have been killed by the hoodlums during yesterday's operation which started about mid-day.

The robbers reportedly shot sporadically into the air for 15 minutes to scare people away from the area before gaining  access to the vaults of three new generation banks.

An eye witness said attempt to rob another new generation bank in the same area was unsuccessful even when the security door of the bank was blown off with dynamites.

It was learnt that the 20-man gang had previously attempted to rob those banks but met stiff resistance by through a vigilante group which was however caught unawares this time around.

It was gathered that the robbers failed attempt to rob the banks took place two weeks after some banks in the premises of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu North local Government, were robbed. Three persons lost their lives in that robbery.

Vanguard learnt that attempt to resist the robbers who reportedly came in a white Hilux bus by members of vigilante group ended after the group's driver was shot dead.

Among those reported killed by the rampaging robbers were a motorcyclist and one man who was   eating in a food canteen.

A student of Olabisi Onabanjo University OOU simply identified as Leye from the department of Chemical Science was also said to have died of shock during the robbery attack in Sagamu.

According to a source, Leye  a 400 level, met his untimely death at Ago-iwoye when  the robbers' vehicle had  a punctured tyre and decided to fix it in front of Leye's house while he was in bathroom.

Those said to have been injured included one of the leaders of the vigilante group, identified as Musbau Araokanmi and a man simply identified as Letua. They were said to be receiving treatment in  undisclosed hospitals.

The bandits were said to have killed eight persons after their operation before they escaped through Iperu-Ago-Iwoye road, passing through OOU mini campus road.

The news of the robbers almost disrupted a briefing by Academic Staff Union of Universities, OOU, on its planned strike as both students and officials of the union scampered for safety.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer,  PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi said only two lives were lost, and only two banks were  also attacked.

According to him, "At about 11.20 am some armed men up to 25 attacked two banks in Sagamu, with heavy artillery, blew the security door with dynamite. As a result, a member of the vigilante group on distress call was hit by a stray bullet and later died, and a man on bike watching the scenario with  interest also lost his life. The Commissioner of Police, CP, and other senior officers visited the scene  of the incident.