By SIMON EBEGBULEM
THREE persons, including two policemen and a yet to be identified young man, were shot dead, yesterday, in Benin City, after dare-devil armed robbers attacked the Union Bank on Mission Road, Benin City.

The incident which occurred at about 6:30pm, Wednesday, caused panic on the ever busy Mission Road as the incident forced business owners to close shop, while workers in the area took to their heels following the sporadic gun shot.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the incident occurred after the robbers attacked the bank and were fleeing the bank when they saw the policemen in their patrol van and opened fire on them.

The driver and the Inspector in front of the police van were shot and died on the spot  while the civilian behind the police van also died on the spot.

The robbers escaped without any resistance. However, after men of the Joint military Task Force stormed the area, immediately the incident occurred, but then the robbers had gone far. It was learnt that the robbers succeeded in the bank robbery. Over N2 million were said to be carted away by the dare devil robbers.

Vanguard saw the dead bodies being deposited at the Central Hospital Benin mortuary. The police Public Relations Officer, Mr Peter Ogboi, who was contacted, did not pick his cal when contacted.