3 dead, others injured in mob attempt to lynch bank robbers in Kogi

Three persons have been killed in mob’s attempt to lynch bank robbers in Yagba West Local Government Council of Kogi State.

In a statement issued by the Kogi State Police Command’s PPRO, DSP William Ovye Ayah and sent to CAPITAL POST on Thursday, explained that the Police in conjunction with the local hunters trailed the armed robbers after their attack on United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Access Bank at Egbe to their hideout and caught two.

The statement said the irate mob swooped on the robbers when they were brought to the Police station at Odo-Ere, but which the police tried to prevent the robbers from being lynched and in attempt led to the deaths of one officer, while two other civilians died in hospital.

“It would be recalled that, on Tuesday 14/12/2021, some suspected armed robbers attacks the UBA in Odo-Ere and Access Bank Egbe all in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State.

“Consequently, the Police launched manhunt of the suspects in synergy with other security agencies, the Hunters and Vigilantes to the hills where they escaped to.

“While the operations is going on through the aerial surveillance by the Police Helicopter alone with the Special Forces at the Oke-Ere hills, where the hoodlums were trapped, two of the suspects were arrested and taken to Odo-Ere Division.

“The irate mob went to the station, demanding that the two suspects arrested be given to them to lynch. All efforts by the Police to placate the mob prove abortive, and they became violent, in the process lynched one INSPR. Bamisaye Gbenga, to death and injured PC Sunday Alechenu.

“In the efforts to dispersed the mob, two persons, a male and a female were maimed but both died in the hospital while receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Part of the station was set ablaze by the mob.

“The Commissioner of Police while condemning the act of lawlessness perpetrated by the Youth of Ode-Ere, calls on them to restrain from taking the law into their hands. While assuring the public that at the conclusion of investigation, the suspects will be arraigned in court to face justice.

“The Commissioner of Police extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the unfortunate incident.”