Many feared dead as armed robbers attack First Bank in Isanlu, Kogi state

A gang of heavily armed robbers wreaked havoc on Isanlu, headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State after attacking a branch of First Bank in the community on Thursday.

According to multiple reports, the robbers numbering about eight arrived the town in two vehicles around 2pm, and divided themselves into groups. Some went to the police station in the town while others attacked the bank. The daredevil gunmen were said to have forcefully gained access into the bank and shot sporadically for more than one hour.

The bank is also said to be the only commercial bank in the town and unconfirmed reports say policemen and bank customers were some of the casualties of the brutal attack.

According to journalist Fisayo Soyombo, “the robbers first went to police station, marched out the civilians and policemen inside it and killed them one after the other. Then they roamed the town and proceeded to the bank to rob and kill”.

Neusroom could not immediately confirm the number of casualties but several photos and videos circulating on the internet show people at the police station and bank premises lying in the pool of their blood.

Photos on the internet also show the police station and the bank damaged by the gunmen.

The spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, William Ovye, could not be reached for comments as calls to his mobile phone were not answered. The Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications of First Bank, Folake Ani-Mumuney, did not respond to request for confirmation either.