A gang of armed robbers Thursday, killed nine persons, comprising eight Policemen and one civilian as they swooped on a branch of a first-generation bank in Isanlu, Kogi State.

It was learnt that among those killed were the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the town, five other Policemen and two Policewomen.

It was further learnt that while the DPO, the two Policewomen and four Policemen were killed at the Police Station, one Policeman was killed at the bank’s premises.

The other victim, a male civilian, died when a stray bullet hit him.

The armed robbers were said to have invaded the Police Station at about 1.00 p.m. and opened fire on all officers and men on duty, perhaps because of one of their colleagues allegedly detained there.

The source stated that the Police Station was completely destroyed by the armed robbers who also set free all detainees in the detention facility.

The robbers later proceeded to the bank branch in the area where they killed one of the Policemen on duty and carted away money.

An eyewitness, who spoke on conditions of anonymity said the robbery operation lasted almost one hour, after which they escaped in two vehicles, strongly believed to have been earlier snatched from its owner, but later abandoned around Kizito College, Isanlu.

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“The robbers came in two vehicles – a bus and a car – with which they also escaped from the town.

Mr William Aya, the spokesman of the Police Command in Kogi, confirmed the robbery incident and the invasion of the Police station, but added that the casualty figure was “still hazy”.

“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ede Ayuba, has dispatched the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the operation, to Isanlu to ascertain the true situation,” he explained, promising to brief the press “as soon as details are available”.