A manager with Heritage Bank, a cashier and two other persons were killed on Friday in a robbery incident in Otun Ekiti, headquarters of Moba Local Government Area of Ekiti.

The other persons killed by the robbers included a security guard attached to the palace of the paramount ruler of the town, Oba Adedapo Popoola, and another security guard attached to Unity Bank.

It was learnt that an undisclosed sum of money was carted away from the Heritage Bank branch in the town during the incident.

Oba Popoola, who spoke to newsmen, said the incident happened after working hours.

“I was relaxing with my chiefs in front of the palace when we heard what first sounded like some fireworks and we dismissed it as some of the children’s antics as a result of the festive period

“But later, we heard heavier and more shocking sounds that resembled gunshots and explosives

“That was when we realised it was no child’s play as gunshots and explosives rang loud all over the place.

“I couldn’t really rationalise the incident as we ruminated on whether it was a robbery, Boko Haram attack or some form of war.

“We later learnt that the robbers planted their men at the four entry points leading into the town,” he said

According to him, the sporadic gunshots and sound of explosives lasted for about an hour and left four persons dead.

“The Heritage Bank Manager and cashier, security man at Unity Bank and my own night guard were all killed in the operation

“I immediately reported the case to the governor and he mobilised the security operatives who promptly followed up the governor’s instruction.

“But by the time the reinforcement came, the robbers had left the scene,” the first class traditional ruler said.

The monarch, who said the incident was the first of its kind in the town, said Otun was prone to such attacks because of its border town status with Kogi, Osun and Kwara.

“The border towns and local government areas should be given very tight security so that such incidents do not happen again. Government should put in more efforts into ensuring the protection of lives and property,” he said.

Residents said the security guard at Unity Bank had just resumed for work in the evening when the robbers struck.

He was said to be preparing for his wedding in a matter of days while his wife was said to be pregnant.

Confirming the incident, Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Alberto Adeyemi, said the bodies of the victims had been deposited at the morgue in Usi-Ekiti General Hospital

“We have commenced investigations into the incident and hope that the perpetrators would soon be apprehended,” he said.

A group of dare devil robbers recently also invaded the Divisional Police Headquarters at Ido Ekiti, headquarters of Ido Osi Local Government Area, destroying the entire premises with explosives and carting away arms.

Ido Osi Local Government Area shares boundary with Moba Local Government Area.

•Text courtesy of NAN.

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