By Isiaka Oyibo

AYANGBA (KOGI) — 30 armed bandits, yesterday, held hostage depositors and staff of a first generation bank (names withheld) in Ayangba, Kogi State, carting away an undisclosed amount of money in a robbery operation that lasted for nearly 30 minutes.

The robbers, Vanguard gathered, were said to have invaded the bank with two 18-seater buses and started shooting sporadically which  led to several persons sustaining injuries from stray bullets.

An eyewitness, who simply gave his name as Haruna, told Vanguard that he had to sneak into one of the offices of the state university, which is opposite the bank, while the shooting lasted.

The state  Police Public Relations Officer  (PPRO), Mohammed  Abubakar who confirmed the incident, said a crack team of security operatives have been dispatched to the area for a possible crack down on the hoodlums.

The robbers, it was learnt,  operated with impunity and escaped through Ejule and Alloma to Nsukka in the East.

It was also learnt that the robbers, while at Ejule,  snatched a jeep from an unsuspecting victim and abandoned the two buses.