DAILY TRUST
Suspected armed robbers have invaded the popular phones and accessories market, otherwise known as Computer Village, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and killed a trader.
The gun-wielding hoodlums, numbering eight, arrived in the market located at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, in broad daylight, on Wednesday, to carry out the operation.
Witnesses said they fired shots, causing traders and customers to scamper for safety.
However, some of the witnesses also suspected that the gunmen might be members of a cult on the trail of a rival.
Abeokuta metropolis had witnessed a resurgence of cult killings, with a record of about five murders in the last month.
It was gathered that some of the traders at the computer village later repelled the attack and arrested one of the robbers.
The police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Thursday morning, confirmed the incident, saying the police “successfully repelled an armed robbery gang.”
Oyeyemi told newsmen that “the armed robbery gang stormed the market at about 5:30pm, started shooting sporadically and carted away expensive phones.”
He disclosed that a distress call was made to the police at Ibara division, and the DPO, CSP Abayomi Adeniji, immediately mobilised his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of the Amotekun corps to the scene.
According to him, 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.”
He identified Adeniji Sakiru, 32, as a suspect arrested during the attack.
Oyeyemi also confirmed that “Unfortunately, one Dayo Bankole, a trader in the market who was shot by the robbers, gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta.”
He told newsmen that one double-barrel locally made gun and “assorted criminal charms” were recovered from the arrested suspect.
Oyeyemi said the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, had directed the transfer of the suspect to the State CIID.
