Gunmen attack bank, kill policeman in Kogi

Iyara – Gunmen suspected to be robbers on Friday night, attacked a bank and police station, killing a policeman at Iyara Community in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi.
An eye-witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the robbers who invaded the town, divided themselves into two groups before they commenced operation at about 9.45 p.m., shooting sporadically into the air.
NAN learnt that one group attacked the Iyara branch of a new generation bank, bombing the strong-room with explosives and carting away cash from the vault.
The robbers were said to have gunned down a policeman on guard duty at the bank before blasting the strong-room.
After robbing the bank, they were said to have headed straight to the Divisional Police Station, where they met strong resistance from the Police Anti-Terrorist Squad which foiled their plans to loot the armoury at the station.
Some residents of the town who spoke to NAN, said that the robbers held the town hostage for a long time, detonating explosives indiscriminately and shooting sporadically.
The Spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, Mr Ile Simon, confirmed the incident but could not give the casualty figure or amount stolen from the bank.
“We cannot say for now, all we got from there is that they attacked the bank and our station and there was exhange of fire,” he said. (NAN)