The Police in Ekiti State have said that four persons were killed during a violent robbery attack on a bank in Ijero-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria that the robbers invaded the town at about 6 p.m. after workers had closed.

They were said to have first driven to the Police station in the town where they killed two policemen on duty, before heading straight to a first generation bank in an ambulance containing a casket loaded with guns.

Others killed, according to the source, were a security guard at the bank who was shot around the ATM stand and an aged man who was passing by at the time of the attack.

The robbers were said to have entered Ijero-Ekiti through Aramoko-Ekiti road.

They were said to have announced their arrival with gunshots which sent residents scampering for safety.

The bandits reportedly blew the bank’s security door with dynamite to gain access into the banking hall and made away with unspecified amount of money in the raid, which lasted for about an hour.

NAN reports that the heavy shooting by the robbers paralysed transportation, economic and social activities in the town.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Caleb Ikechuckwu, said that he had visited the town to gather information, adding that the robbers arrived the town at about 5.30 p.m.

“There were, indeed, casualties. The robbers arrived the town a few minutes after 5.30 p.m. They succeeded by using dynamite to gain access into the banking hall.

“There was, however, no casualty on the side of the bank, but there was one or two on the side of Police,” he said.

(NAN)