Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
Panic gripped residents of the Osuntokun–Secretariat Road axis of Ibadan North Local Government on Monday morning after a group of armed robbers ambushed a bank customer, carting away an undisclosed amount of money and leaving a police officer critically injured during a gun battle.
According to eyewitness accounts, the victim had just withdrawn cash from a commercial bank when he was trailed and attacked by the gunmen around 8:00 a.m. The assailants, who were travelling in a separate vehicle, intercepted the victim’s grey Nissan Primera with registration number EPE 901 PS and robbed him at gunpoint.
“They followed him from the bank and stopped him along Osuntokun. They fired several shots into the air to scare people away and then took the money. A police officer who tried to intervene was shot and seriously injured,” an eyewitness told reporters.
The incident caused chaos in the usually busy area as traders, motorists, and pedestrians fled for safety amid sporadic gunfire. Residents have since called on the police to intensify patrols and improve surveillance, particularly around banks and adjoining roads notorious for such attacks.
Police Confirm Attack, Launch Manhunt
Confirming the development, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adewale Osifeso, said the Command received distress reports of the robbery and immediately deployed tactical teams to the scene.
“Preliminary findings indicate that a bank depositor driving a metallic grey Nissan Primera was trailed and dispossessed of a substantial amount of cash by armed assailants. A police officer attached to the patrol team sustained serious injuries while engaging the suspects,” Osifeso said in a statement.
He confirmed that no lives were lost in the attack and that the injured officer was receiving treatment at a secure medical facility.
Investigation Underway
Osifeso assured the public that a comprehensive investigation had been launched to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“The Oyo State Police Command has activated all necessary operational strategies to apprehend those responsible. We urge members of the public to remain calm and provide any useful information that could aid ongoing investigations,” he stated.
Public Outcry Over Rising Attacks
The robbery has reignited public concern over the safety of commuters and bank customers in Ibadan. Many residents have expressed fears about the increasing trend of “bank trailing” — a tactic where robbers monitor customers withdrawing large sums before ambushing them.
Community leaders and traders have urged the authorities to deploy more surveillance cameras, especially around banking hubs and major road intersections, to deter such crimes and restore public confidence.
As of press time, security operatives were still combing the area for clues, while the victim’s condition remained undisclosed.
