There was pandemonium on Thursday as suspected robbers killed twelve persons, including a policeman, during an attack on a police station in Akoko-Edo Local Government of Edo State and invasion of two banks at Igarra, the headquarters of the council.
Two persons, who were detained at the police station for minor offences, were also killed by the hoodlums.
Witnesses said the robbers first attacked the police station, which is about 1.2 kilometre from the banks, to demobilise policemen.
The suspected robbers were said to have torched the official vehicle of the new area commander and killed a policeman.
Three other persons near the police station were reportedly hit by stray bullets.
Four persons were killed on the banks’ premises.
Sources claimed the robbers could not gain access to the banks’ vaults.
A youth, Ofei Obende, said policemen at the banks tried to resist the robbers, but were overpowered.
The Secretary to the Otaru of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania, confirmed the incident. He said: “This is a serious case. Robbers have besieged Igarra. Many people were killed, 10 bodies have been counted.
“The police station was set ablaze; the area commander’s car was torched.
“It is a calamity. The robbers could not gain entry into the strong rooms of the banks. The people killed were outside the bank premises. A policeman was killed at the police station.”
