Robbers hijack bullion van, kill two policemen, injure others in Ibadan

 

.Troops killed 120 terrorists as 965 surrender in three weeks –DHQ

.Military gunships kill 37 bandits in Niger, lose  soldier in Kaduna

JOSEPH OKWUOFU, Ibadan

 

Pandemonium broke out on Thursday afternoon as armed robbers attacked and hijacked a bullion van, at Idi-Ape area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city, killing no fewer than two policemen, and injuring several others.

 

Unconfirmed sources said the two policemen who fell to the bullets were security escorts accompanying the bullion van from one of the new generation banks.

 

There were sounds of gun shots fired by the invading robbers who operated for over twenty minutes on the road.

 

Movement of vehicles was brought to a halt, with long queues of vehicles.

 

The gunmen who successfully broke into the bullion van and emptied its content, deflated the tyres of the van, and shot several people including policemen before escaping into the thin air.

 

A source said the bullion van was coming from one of the new generation banks located around Testing ground, Idi-Ape, Ibadan.

 

The two lane road was deserted, while some motorists trapped in the operation, abandoned their vehicles on the road and ran for cover to prevent stray bullets.

 

Unfortunately, some passersby and motorists were hit by stray bullets, causing others to scamper for safety.

 

Unspecified number of persons who sustained gun shots were rushed to a nearby hospital, while others were admitted at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for medical attention.

 

Effort to confirm the incident from the Police proved abortive as calls to the police spokesperson , DSP Adewale Oyefeso were not going through as at the time of filling this report.

 

Surprisingly, the scene of the robbery incident was few metres away from a Police Station, which houses one of the Area Commands of the Nigeria Police Force in the state.

Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Hadin Kai, have eliminated more than 120 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists in the North East in the last three weeks.

 

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said this while giving update on military operations across the country between January 20 and February 10 on Thursday in Abuja.

 

Onyeuko said that several ISWAP commanders including their Amir and some foreign mercenaries who made improvised explosive devices were killed during air raids and land operations.

 

He also said that 965 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops in different locations within the theatre of operation during the period.

 

Onyeuko said that 104 of the surrendered terrorists were from the ISWAP group while 25 abducted victims were rescued during the operations.

 

According to him, the surrendered terrorists have been properly documented and handed over to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

 

He added that 50 terrorists were arrested from different locations by the gallant troops while five gun trucks and cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

 

According to him, troops also recorded significant results at various locations in Adamawa and Yobe around Goniri in Gujba local government area of Yobe.

 

“Notably, the air interdiction eliminated several ISWAP Commanders and their fighters during the encounter.

 

“In the air strike, ISWAP senior commander Malam Ari, the Amirul Fiya in charge of Kirta Wulgo and some foreign mercenaries fabricating Improvised Explosive Device for the terrorists were killed during the airstrike.

 

“Relatedly, the Air Component conducted air strikes on ISWAP enclaves at Abbaganaram, Bukar Mairam, Chukum Gudu and Jubilaram in Marte local government area.

 

“In the process, troops neutralised scores of terrorists including high profile commanders, while about 25 terrorists got drowned in the lake in an attempt to escape the bombardment.

 

“The ISWAP armoury and warehouse were also destroyed and arrest of several terrorists, recovery of assorted arms, ammunition were made, along with their gun trucks and other weapons.

 

“Also, livestock and other items of security concern were recovered as well as rescued abducted civilians,” he said.