….As Monsoon rain flooding, landslides kill 26 in southern India***

Twelve persons, including a policeman, were feared killed on Thursday evening, when dare-devil armed robbers invaded a police station and two banks in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government area of Edo State.

Among those reportedly killed in the police station were two detainees who were said to have been arrested on Thursday morning for minor offences, one of them was reportedly arrested for incomplete vehicle particulars.

The armed men had first attacked the police station which is about 1.2 kilometres​ away from the banks, where they burnt the official vehicle of the newly posted Area Commander, apparently to demobilise the only means of neutralising their act and also killed a policeman.

Three other persons were said to have also met their untimely death near the police station from the barrels of the guns of the dare-devil armed robbers.

Four other persons were reportedly killed within the premises of the two banks, apparently in anger as it was gathered that the armed men could not get access to the vaults of the banks.

One of the youths in the community who gave his name as Ofei Obende, said they tried to resist the robbers but were overpowered by their firepower.

He, however, said that the police in the banks had exchange of gunfire with the invaders, which he said were responsible for the death of the three unidentifiable bodies, while another unknown person was said to have been caught in the cross fire.

As at the time of this report, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor said information about the attack was still sketchy and would release more details later.

However, Elder Folorunsho Dania, the Palace Secretary to the paramount ruler of the community, Otaru of Igarra, confirmed the incident to journalists on phone.

In the meantime, torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 26 people in flooding, landslides and house collapses in the southern Indian state of Kerala with more than 15,500 people taking shelter in state-run relief camps.

Top elected state official Pinarayi Vijayan says the flood situation has become “very grim'” with the opening of sluice gates of nearly two dozen overflowing water reservoirs.

Shibu, a relief official, said Friday nearly 200 army soldiers joined rescue workers in the worst-hit Ayannkulu, Idukki and Wayanad areas.

At least 26 people have been killed in the state since Wednesday, said Shibu, who uses one name.

Monsoon rains kill hundreds of people every year in India. The monsoon season runs from June to September.

The Citizen with additional report from ABC