Unknown gunmen on Thursday attacked a First Bank branch in Isanlu, Yagba East local government area of Kogi state leaving several policemen and civilians dead.
While the state Police command is trying to get details of the development from its Divisional Office in Isanlu, information from residents suggests the DPO was killed in the attack.
The attackers also reportedly hit the Divisional Police headquarters in the town, killing all officers on duty.
When contacted, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP William Aya said following the inability to reach the DPO and other officers, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operation has been deployed to assess what was going on.
“Attacks on a bank and police formation was reported by civilians but I can’t give you details because the DPO on ground cannot be reached yet but the Deputy Commissioner of Police is on his way to assess the situation,” he said.
Information gathered from residents the gunmen, arrived the bank during closing hours in two vehicles. The security personnel at the bank was killed before they stormed the bank premises. Passersby were also shot by the criminals.
An eye witness, Segun Thomas, explained that the gunmen first attacked the Isanlu police station where eight policemen, the Divisional Police Officer in charged of the station, five male policemen and one female police officer were killed and their weapons carted away.
Thomas, a retired police officer, added that the robbers having enjoyed their free day at the police station proceeded to the local government branch of First Bank Plc where a female civilian who was at the bank to transact business was also killed by the gunmen bring the total causality to nine persons.
The gunmen reportedly operated for more than an hour before driving off in their vehicles.
