Robbers invade Ogun phone market, kill one

The Ogun state police command says a trader was killed on Wednesday after armed robbers invaded the Tarmac phone market in Abeokuta, the state capital.

In a statement on Thursday, Abimbola Oyeyemi, state police spokesperson, said one out of the eight robbers was arrested.

He said the robbers invaded the market at about 5:30 pm, shooting sporadically and dispossessing traders of expensive phones.

Oyeyemi said the rest of the gang escaped after the police arrived and successfully repelled them.

A manhunt to apprehend the robbers had commenced, the spokesperson added.

“On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in a gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels,” Opeyemi said.

“They were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru, 32, was apprehended.

“Unfortunately, one Dayo Bankole, a trader in the market, who was shot by the robbers gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye, Abeokuta.”

Among the items recovered from the arrested suspect were one double barrel locally made gun and charms.

Frank Mba, the outgoing commissioner of police, directed that the suspect be transferred to the state criminal investigation department for discreet investigation and charged the police to be relentless in bringing to justice, the seven other robbers who escaped.