17 Policemen, Civilians Killed As Robbers Hit Offa, Kwara State Banks Again

.No fewer than 17 persons, including policemen, were on Thursday killed in Offa, Kwara State as armed robbers hit the town again.

Banks in the town were only reopened last year after over one year of closure following incessant raids and killings by armed robbers.

The robbery operation on Thursday lasted over one hour, with the robbers first hitting the police station in the town.

The attacked Owode Police Station where they killed policemen and some complainants  before they raided the banks.

Sources said some customers who were transacting businesses in the banks were also killed.

The robbers, according to eye witnesses, entered the town at about 4:45pm and operated till about 5:40pm unchallenged, after blocking the Ilorin and Osogbo entrances into the town.

They were said to have later made their escape through Igosun, a nearby community.Among those said to have been killed by the armed robbers were a police officer who was expected to retire in the next few months and a pregnant police woman.

The bandits, numbering at least 15, according to sources, came in different vehicles, stationed themselves at strategic locations within the town while the operation lasted.

They were also said to have snatched some motorcycles to aid their escape.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident, saying victims included policemen and other persons.

Okasanmi said details of the incident would be made public on completion of  investigation.

An eyewitness, Olusegun Ogungboye, said: “The armed robbers started operation around past 4pm and drove away at about 5:35pm.”

According to available information, five persons were killed by the robbers in areas around the banks hit and from which huge amounts were said to have been carted away, two dead bodies found in the Post Office area of the town, another in front of the Catholic Church and about 10 dead bodies in various offices within Owode Police Station, including civilians and policemen