A POLICE officer was killed and five other persons injured when a 10-man armed robbery gang struck in different areas of Ogun State yesterday.
The robbers had attacked the Internal Revenue Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta about 12 noon yesterday dispossessing some employees and other people they met at the office of their valuables.
According to a witness, the robbers shot sporadically into the air to scare people and passers-by away.
The witness, who preferred anonymity said the robbers beat up officials of the Internal Revenue office and people who came to transact business there, adding that “they took away the safe and collected money from those who came to transact business at the office.”
The incident was later confirmed by the state police spokesperson, Mr. Femi Awoyale. He said they were alerted and immediately swung into action by chasing the robbers to the Sagamu interchange.
It was at the Sagamu interchange that one of the police officers fell to the bullets of the desperate robbers.
The Guardian investigation had it that the officer was gunned down during an exchange of fire between the police and the robbers.
The robbers were said to have left the Sagamu interchange for Sagamu town and raided a community bank. But they were not successful at the bank, apparently because they were in a hurry.
A witness said that motorist along the Sagamu metropolis were also raided.
As the robbers moved towards Ijebu-Ode/Ilishan road, they snatched a Hummer Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) from the occupant, one Mr. Ojetunde Festus and wounded him.
Among the five people that were injured, two were police constables.
Awoyale however confirmed to reporters that they were able to recover the Hummer Jeep, a Volvo, a Skoda and a revolver pistol.
He also said that no arrest had been made but that the robbers escaped with various degrees of bullet wounds.
He advised hospital officials to be wary of treatment they would be giving, as some people with bullet wounds will be coming for treatment.
He confirmed the killing of a police officer and injuring of five others.