Kogi State Police Command, hunters and vigilantes have arrested members of the suspected robbery syndicate who attacked three banks and police stations in Egbe and Odo Ere communities in Yagba West Local government area of the state last week Tuesday.
According to a report, they were arrested after two suspected armed robbers members were also arrested by local hunters at Igbaruku, a suburb of Odo-Ere while begging residents for drinking water.
Bank robbery expert, Ojo Jimoh
A local source said news of their arrests attracted an irate crowd, who gathered at the police divisional station at Odo-Ere and demanded instant justice.
According to the source, when the police failed to yield to their demand, the crowd became unruly and in the melee, an officer mistakenly fired a gunshot that led to the death of two yet-to-be-identified persons.
“The irate mob retaliated, killed the police officer, and razed down part of the police station.
“On Saturday, three more members of the fleeing robbers were intercepted at Ejiba, while two others, who were trying to board a vehicle in nearby Isanlu, were arrested.
“The driver of the vehicle pretended like taking them on the journey but instead drove them into the police station.
“Two others were intercepted in Isanlu, during a stop and search operation when they were found to be in possession of N2 million worth of cash wrapped in an emblem of one of the affected banks.
“All arrested suspects have been moved to Kogi State Police Command in Lokoja, for further investigations and prosecution,” the source said