Policeman, banker killed as robbers attack bank with dynamite

Ilawe-Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti South-West Local Government, Ekiti State was a theatre of war on Tuesday as bandits stormed the agrarian town in a commando style.
They attacked an old generation bank and when they left, a policeman and a banker had been killed.
The raid  on the  bank in the community  was coming barely three weeks after a similar incident  at a first generation bank in Ifaki Ekiti in which a  policeman died.
A bank staff and some other persons were said to have  sustained injuries in the incident which lasted about one hour.
An eyewitness said the  robbers stormed the bank,  which is located close to the Alawe’s Palace, about 3.pm  and operated unhindered,  shooting sporadically into the air.
They reportedly blew up  the bank’s security door with dynamite before gaining entrance and carting away an unspecified  amount of money.
The dynamite, it was learnt,  also blew up a  Toyota Camry car parked within the vicinity of the bank.
Confirming the incident, the  Alawe of  Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, expressed shock at the attack.
The traditional ruler said the robbers had turned his domain to a “war front, ’’  deploying  dynamites  and grenade which caused panic in the community.
“It was a terrible experience, my palace is very close to the bank. It was terrifying, it was like a war front. They kept detonating grenades during the attack.
“I was in the palace during the robbery, the attack happened less than a hour after a bullion van delivered cash to the bank.
“We have been in touch with the governor and the state police command over the attack,’’ he said.