For over 30 minutes, the robbers laid siege on the popular Oyemekun Road, shooting sporadically into the air to herald their arrival.
They were said to have entered Akure through the Leo Junction, passing through Ayedun to Adegbola Junction before invading the bank. To gain entry into the new generation bank, they were said to have blown off the bullet proof doors with dynamites. Among the victims was a security man attached to the bank. Many customers and residents in the area, which was a stone’s throw to the office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akure, sustained various degrees of injuries. For the period that the operation lasted, Oyemekun Road suddenly became a ghost town as the ever-busy road was deserted by both motorists and commuters.
An eyewitness said: “Immediately the robbers alighted from their vehicles, they started shooting sporadically. They shot the security man at the entrance of the bank. The man’s name is Bankole. They found it difficult to enter into the bank, so they had to bomb the bulletproof door with dynamites to gain access into the building. “After the operation inside the bank, as they were going, they also started shooting sporadically to anything at sight. In the process, they shot four other innocent people they met on the way as they were escaping.”
While the operation lasted, policemen were nowhere to be found, as they were said to have fled the area for their lives. While some hurriedly removed their uniforms, the rest just vanished into thin air. Shortly after the robbery gang had left, some residents of Akure came out to sympathise with the dead. The environment was enveloped in uncontrollable tears. Residents, especially the women, could not hold back their tears. Virtually all other banks in Akure metropolis stopped operation for the day at about 2pm. Customers were being turned back following the robbery attack.
Some aggrieved people attacked the policemen who later came to the scene of the incident.
When it was obvious that they were not wanted, the policemen drove back with aggrieved youths hurling stones and pebbles at them. And few minutes later, some military personnel drove to the scene with some of the robbers, who they claimed were arrested. This attracted commendation from some youths who lauded the bravery of the soldiers.
An eyewitness said: “Fortunately, as the robbers were trying to escape out of Akure, the joint team of policemen and soldiers gave them a hot chase. They were able to arrest three of the robbers. They also brought them to the scene of the robbery for people to see.
“It is unfortunate that the policemen were nowhere to be found. Even there was no response from the former police headquarters which is just a few kilometres from the scene of the robbery.” To the state government, the bank raid was unfortunate. Governor Olusegun Mimiko while speaking at a prayer session organized by the Baptist Convention in Akure, commiserated with families of the victims. His words: “It is rather unfortunate that we have to lose some people to the bank raid. On behalf of the people of Ondo State, I want to commiserate with the families of the victims.
“I pray that God will guard the people of the state against any future occurrence, just as I task the security operatives to rise up to the challenges of combating crime.”
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