The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has commended the
gallantry of men of the Edo State Police Command, who foiled a
robbery attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government
Area of Edo State.
Obaseki expressed regret over the death of some persons while
the attack lasted and prayed for the repose of their souls.
He said those that were wounded would be treated and assured
that the state government is working assiduously to rid the state
of criminal elements, through vigorous synergy with the various
security agencies in the state.
“The attack is unfortunate and we will do all within our power
to forestall such heinous incidents in the future,” the governor
said.
He said the bravery of men of the state police command is an
evidence of the ongoing reforms and synergy between the state
government and the hierarchy of the Police.
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said
that the attack was foiled by the combined force of Policemen, who
were on guard duty at the two banks in the vicinity, noting that
three of the armed robbers were killed during a gun duel.
While parading the bodies of the dead criminals at the State
Police Headquarters, in Benin City, on Friday, he said that two
civilians and a Police Inspector were killed, when members of the
gang staged a simultaneous attack at the nearest Police station in
the area.
According to him, “The attack on the bank in Igarra was on
Keystone Bank, and not on two banks.
Three of the armed robbers who were
killed in a gun duel with the Police during the foiled robbery
attack on a bank in Igarra, in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of
Edo State.
each other. One is keystone Bank, the second is Unity Bank. The
marauding criminals actually attacked Keystone Bank, but they met
with very stiff opposition from Policemen who were on duty at Unity
Bank and Keystone Bank. They were men of the Nigeria Police Mobile
Force (MOPOL 60), Edo State,” Kokumo said.
“They were able to give a very good account of the stuff they
are made of in a gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the
policemen who were on bank guard duty. Three of the criminals were
gunned down. Here you see them with their operational weapons
recovered,” he added.
On reports that the criminals attacked a police station in
Igarra, he said, “Criminals will always evolve different means of
perpetuating their acts. What this gang of criminals did was to
divide themselves into two halves. One of them had gone to the
Police station ostensibly to prevent the Police from responding to
possible distress call from the bank when the attack would have
been wrecked on the bank. The second half went to Keystone Bank for
the attack.
“The moment the distress call went to the Police station, there
was no way the Policemen at the station could hasten down to
prevent them. The ones at the Police station were the ones that
wreaked the havoc, killing two civilians and one Police inspector.
I would regard that as the minus of the operation, but on the
whole, it is sad that we lost an inspector of Police to this
criminal gang. Three of the armed robbers were gunned down,” the
police commissioner said.
He denied claims that some persons lost their lives at the bank
premises, noting, “After the encounter, two of the armed robbers
were actually dead. The third one was not dead as at the time the
Police swooped on them; he was able to give us useful information
that we are processing with a view to apprehending others who have
taken to flight.”
Obaseki urged Edo people and residents to rely on credible
sources of information as unscrupulous individuals in the society
are determined to misrepresent facts and spread outright falsehood
and fear on the social and other media platforms.