Policeman, banker killed in bullion van robbery attempt

By DAYO JOHNSON
AKURE – A policeman and a bank official were reportedly killed in a shoot out between policemen and robbers who ambushed a bullion van along the Okitipupa -Igbokoda expressway in OndoState on Tuesday.

But police authorities denied the death of the any of the four policemen that accompanied the bullion van to offload cash at one of the first generation banks in the Southern part of the state.

It was, however, gathered that the timing by the robbers was wrong as the vehicle had offloaded the cash and was returning to base.

Police PRO, Wole Ogodo, confirmed, however, that one bank official died in the cross fire while some policemen equally sustained injuries.

Vanguard gathered that the corpses of the banker, Stephen Adu, and that of the policeman, whose rank and name could not be ascertained have been deposited at the Specialist hospital in Akure

Ogodo also said some of the robbers were equally wounded during the gun battle.

But sources said the robbers ambushed the bullion van and in the process a gun battle ensued between the four policemen in the  van and the robbers numbering about 15.

Vanguard learnt that the robbers were, however, unable to break into the bullion van because the policemen were shooting from the van and stood their ground which was not expected by the robbers.

Sources said the robbers later fled into the bush while they reportedly carried their members that were injured.

Traffic on the busy road was disrupted for over two hours as motorists made u- turns so as not to run into the cross fire.

By the time police reinforcement could come the robbers had reportedly disappeared into the bush.

Contacted the Police PRO, Ogodo confirmed the attack.

Ogodo said the robbers were unable to overpower the policemen that accompanied the cash moving van.

He added that they had to run into the bush because they did not expect that the policemen could confront them.

Ogodo said some policemen were wounded in the cross fire.