Robbers raid bank, kill police officers, residents in Kogi [PHOTOS]

On Thursday, a yet-to-be ascertained number of police personnel and passers-by were brutally killed when suspected armed robbers invaded the Isanlu branch of the First Bank of Nigeria Limited in Kogi State, TopNaija reports.

A source told revealed that the robbers, numbering about seven, came in two vehicles, broke into the bank and shot dead several persons. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, William Ayah, who confirmed the attack, said there were casualties, but the command had yet to ascertain the number.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba, had detailed his deputy, Akeem Yusuf, to liaise with the Divisional Police Officer in Isanlu to get details of the incident and report back to him within 24 hours.

Our correspondent gathered that about seven security personnel on duty at the bank and some passers-by were killed by the robbers, who were angered by their inability to gain access into the banking hall.

The gunmen were also said to have invaded the Divisional Police Headquarters, Isanlu, and killed some policemen on duty.

Investigative journalist Fisaya Soyombo shared the images on Twitter, saying it is “a very dark day for Kogi State and a scary reminder of the state of security in this country.” “A witness told me the operation was a replica of the Offa bank robbery of 2018. The robbers first went to the station, marched out the civilians and policemen inside it and killed them one after the other. Then they roamed the town and proceeded to the bank to rob and kill.” Soyombo wrote.

Aya promised to get back to our correspondent with details of the incident as soon as they were available.