TheCable

Two police inspectors were killed during a bank robbery on Tuesday in Iragbiji, Boripe LGA of the state.

TheCable had reported that the robbers arrived at the bank around 3pm and operated for about 30 minutes.

Several persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries while the operation lasted.

Giving an update on the incident on Wednesday, Yemisi Opalola, spokesperson of the Osun police command, gave the names of the deceased officers as Ogunbiyi Ahmed and Odeyemi Ayinla.

The police spokesperson said: “The robbers invaded the police divisional headquarters and Wema Bank with sporadic shooting and launching of explosive devices in an attempt to disorganise, incapacitate and destabilise the police who were in a fierce gun battle with them while robbing the bank.

“As a result, some parts of divisional police headquarters were damaged. The robbers also shot at an armoured personnel carrier (APC) tyres with explosive devices.

“The robbers in a bid to gain entry into the bank blew off its security door with dynamite, ATM was also destroyed, but an attempt to break into the bank strong room was foiled.

“It is unfortunate that in the course of the incident and during the pursuit of the fleeing bandits, two police inspectors, namely Inspector Ogunbiyi Ahmed and Inspector Odeyemi Ayinla were shot dead.”

The police spokesperson said the robbers abandoned unexploded dynamites and two vehicles after they were engaged in a gun duel.