Gun battle in Osogbo
There was stampede in Osogbo, the Osun State capital for several hours yesterday, following a failed attempt by a gang of armed robbers to raid the branch of a new genaration bank in the town. The incident led to the closure of shops and paralyzed commercial activities in the state capital for several hours.
It was gathered that both the robbers and Police officers exchanged gun fire for about an hour, during which an unidentified police officer was injured. Although the state of the Police officer could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, unconfirmed report however had it that the Police officer later gave up in the hospital he was rushed to.
According to eyewitnesses, the armed robbers stormed the bank in a black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a Nissan Primera car and attempted to gain entrance into the banking hall, but were prevented by security agents attached to the bank.
It was further learnt that men of the State Security Services (SSS) joined the police in the effort to prevent them from gaining access into the banking hall. The robbers, it was gathered, after several aborted efforts, fled, shooting sporadically as they moved. Commercial transporters and other motorists plying the Gbongan/Ibadan Road hurriedly vacated the busy road yesterday for fear of being attacked by the robbers, just as the road that led to the state secretariat was barricaded as police mounted a roadblock during the period.
Hours after the incident ended, Police officers were still seen parading major parts of Osogbo, shooting sporadically into the air. Efforts to get the reaction of the Police, however, failed as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state Police Command, Mrs. Folashade Odoro said she was in a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police when contacted on phone.
Source: Legit.ng