It was learnt that a nine-man gang of dare-devil armed robbers had invaded an old generation bank in the town at about 5.30 pm, shot sporadically into the air and occupied the whole Odo Ese street in the town, where they disrupted commercial activities for about an hour the operation lasted.
Those in the market and other public institutions were said to have scampered in different directions, while the passers-by had rushed into any nearby shop for refuge.
It was reliably gathered that when it became apparently difficult for the robbers to gain entry into the bank, they blew off the security door with an explosive device.
An eyewitness account revealed to journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday that those who queued to withdraw via Automated Tellers Machine (ATM) were marched inside the bank hall by four of the robbers, while others took strategic locations outside.
The bandits were said to have held the staff members and customers hostage, and carted away money running into millions of naira.
The source revealed that one of the robbers had been at a nearby popular joint close to the gate of the bank reading newspapers before others came in a black Sienna car, where he immediately ordered the security guard and the carpenter to lie down.
Tags
Crime