Armed robbers intercept bullion van in Ondo

Dare-devil armed robbers on Wednesday intercepted a bullion van carrying cash from a new generation bank in Akure to an undisclosed bank in Ondo town of Ondo State.
The robbers numbering ten injured some police escorts and bank officials at Ireje village in Ondo East local government area of the state around 1pm.

An eye witness narrated that the robbers overtook the bullion van, shot directly at the van and wounded the police escorts in the other Hilux van.
He said the robbers jumped down from their vehicles, spraying the bullion van, the escort van and the back up van with bullets.
He said “the robbers were unable to break into the bullion van, they shot at the bullion van but could not gain entry and had to leave after some fifteen minutes of heavy shooting.”

The source, who is a resident of the village, said the police escorts responded to the attack while some of the hoodlums were hit with bullets in the process.

He, however, said the robbers bowed to the superior weapons of the policemen and escapee through an alternative route to Ile Oluji.
He explained that the robbers ran into the bush after the operation, while some policemen who were injured in the attack also also ran into the bush.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph said the robbers were unable to carry the money inside the bullion van away.
He said no policeman was killed in the attack but confirmed that some of the policemen escorting the bullion van to Ondo town were injured.
Joseph said “Our men engaged the robbers in gun duel but we were able to over-power them; the robbers escaped with bullet injuries and we are already on their trail.”
It will be recalled that similar attack took place some few meters from the scene of the incident last year, in Elemosho community