Three commercial banks was robbed in Ondo, 7 killed.

It was a night of terror in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State as seven people were killed while others sustained serious injuries when a gang of armed bandits attacked three commercial banks in the town. The robbery incident, which took place on Monday night caused pandemonium as the robbers first attacked the police station in the town before they struck at the banks.

 The daredevil robbers, numbering about 30, who were carrying out the robbery operations simultaneously, blew off the security doors of the three banks with explosive devices believed to be dynamites. They were about gaining entrance into the banks when men of the anti robbery squad engaged them in a gun duel. It was gathered that the battle lasted for over an hour and the police were said to have called for reinforcement from Owo police area command.

 Investigation revealed that the robbers shot indiscriminately with stray bullets hitting some residents .
 At the end, seven people were feared dead while several people sustained injuries. The robbers, it was learnt, destroyed the personnel armored carrier of the police, set one of the banks ablaze and destroyed the security barriers of another bank before the arrival of the police reinforcement from Owo.

 It was also gathered that a security guard in one of the banks identified simply as David was said to have been hit by bullets and died on the spot while a pastor, who was going for a vigil was among the seven killed during the attack. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeniran Aremu explained that those killed were hit by the bullets of the robbers, because they came out of their homes when they heard gunshots. The police spokesman said more policemen had been deployed in the town while efforts had commenced to track down the fleeing robbers.
 When the reinforcement arrived, the police outgunned the bandits, who fled the scene of the attack while the police were said to have given them a hot chase.

 It was gathered that the driver of the APC was said to have sustained serious injury during the encounter with the robbers and was said to be receiving treatment .
 In a related development a group of armed robbers had earlier on same Monday night laid siege on Akure/Owo highway dispossessing travelers their valuables before they were dislodged by armed policemen, who engaged them in a gun battle during which two were killed .