ROBBERS CARRY OUT HOUSE-TO-HOUSE RAIDS IN IBADAN

Suspected armed robbers attacked residents of Tella Estate in the Akobo area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday in a reportedly coordinated operation that lasted several hours.

Residents said the seven-man gang arrived at the residential estate a few minutes after 12am and raided one house after another, carting away valuable items belonging to the residents.

It was also gathered that a large number of residents were injured in the attack.

Several expended cartridges were found at the scene of the raid, while a private guard, identified simply as Victor, received machete cuts to his head from the suspected robbers.

Chairman of the landlord association in the area, Basiru Shodeyinde, said the incident was reported at the Akobo Police Station.

Shodeyinde said, “From the information I have, the robbers have been in the community since midnight. I was not aware until around 2am when a fellow landlord called me on the telephone to inform me about the attack.

“I called other landlords to inform them of the incident in the community. It was then that I became aware that they had attacked seven houses. They carted away mobile phones, laptops, iPad and other valuables. They collected money from their victims.

“We have reported the incident at the Akobo Police Station around 10am on Saturday and we were given a police officer to inspect the damage the robbers did to our people. Though we couldn’t get the police at the period of the attack, we have been given numbers to dial in case we have such experience again.”

A victim of the attack, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the armed robbers wore masks, adding that after he gave them everything he had, they threatened to kill him if he did not give them more. He added that his wife was hit with the butt of a gun by one of the robbers.

He said, “They had almost removed the window’s burglar-proof bars when my wife woke up. She told them that she would open the door and she did so. We gave them all the money we had so that they would not harm us. But they told me to bring more money or they would kill me. I said there was no money and they pointed their gun at me, but my wife confronted them and she was hit with a gun butt. She is in a hospital now.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said nobody made any distress call to the police while the attack lasted despite the fact that police authorities released telephone numbers to every community in the state.

He said the attack was reported around 2pm on Saturday, adding that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had been told to ensure the patrol of the area. He said investigation was ongoing.

Bank manager, three others killed in Ekiti as robbers attack two banks, monarch’s palace

Hell was let loose Thursday evening when dare devil armed robbers numbering more than 30 attacked two commercial banks and killed four people in Otun Ekiti, the headquarters of Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti State. A bank manager, a cashier, a bank security officer who was planning to wed in a week’s time and a palace night guard were among the victims of the robbery incident that took place around 6.00 pm. Sources revealed that the deceased security guard whose fiancé is heavily pregnant had barely resumed for duty when the robbers struck.

The blood thirsty bandits also attacked the palace of the community’s monarch and a petrol station. They were said to have divided themselves into four subgangs to ensure that the attack was successful. The bandits reportedly made away with huge amount of money from the banks and the petrol station. Many residents of the community who received gunshot wounds are receiving treatment in hospitals. Speaking, the Oore of Otun who is also the paramount ruler of Moba land, Oba Adedapo Oladele Popoola said he thought Boko Haram militants had invaded the town when he heard loud bangs of explosives used by the robbers during the attack which lasted for about an hour.

The monarch said: ” I was relaxing with my chiefs in front of the palace when we heard what first sounded like some fireworks but we dismissed it as some of the children’s antics as a result of the festive period. But later we heard heavier and more deafening noise that sounded like gunshots and explosives. That was when we realized it was no child’s play. Gunshots and explosives were all over the place and heard from all corners. I couldn’t situate the incident as we ruminated whether it was robbery, Boko Haram’s attack or some kind of war happening.

“We later learnt that the robbers stationed their men at the four entrances of the town. The first place they were stationed was the roundabout at Erinmope Road, the second was outside Moba Local Government Secretariat, the third was in front of my palace and the fourth was in front of the Technical College outside the town on the way leading to Kwara State.” The monarch added: “The sporadic gunshots and explosives lasted for about an hour before the dust settled. And by that time four innocent people were lying dead.

The manager and a cashier of a new generation bank, a security man at the second new generation bank and the my night guard who had just resumed for night duty and wanted to close the gate were the victims. ” I reported the case to the governor and he immediately called me. The governor quickly mobilized security operatives who promptly acted on his instruction and came around past 7pm but the robbers had long left.” The state’s police command’s spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi confirmed the incident. He disclosed that investigation into the robbery had commenced, adding that the remains of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital in Usi Ekiti.

MOB BURY ROBBERY SUSPECT ALIVE IN EBONYI, PLANTS TREE ON HIS GRAVE

Angry youths have reportedly buried alive a suspected armed robber, Chukwudi Omaka, who along with his gang members allegedly robbed and killed a businessman, NewTelegraph reports.

It was gathered that the businessman, Idam Ogbonnia, was killed at Amaisri community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Police yesterday paraded three of those who reportedly killed Ogbonnia.

A witness, who is a resident of the community, Emmanuel Udu, said Omaka was also among robbers who robbed a cold room known as Etuelughu, belonging to Oko Udu Monday and another businessman identified simply as David, selling provisions.

He said: “The handsome boy (Omaka) was beaten thoroughly. Even at that, he refused to name his members. He was later buried alive by Amasiri youths.”

After youths buried him alive, they reportedly planted a tree on the grave in accordance with the customs of the community against anyone who committed a crime. The tradition has been as old as the community.

Brother to the man who was buried alive, Gideon Omaka, 29 told journalists after he was also arrested that he was a former convict but did not know anything about the robbery for which his brother was killed. He said: “I was in my house when people attacked me and killed my brother, Chukwudi. I ran away.

"They said my brother was one of those who robbed Idam Ogbonnia in my village.
"My brother was the one who was buried alive when I ran away. The people later arrested me.

“I just returned from prison that was why the people said I knew about the robbery that took place in my community for which my brother was accused, attacked and buried alive. I was released from prison March this year.”