Heavy gunshots as robbers invade Abeokuta market

There were heavy gunshots in Abeokuta on Wednesday as armed robbers invaded a popular phone market otherwise known as Tarmac.

Giving an update on the incident, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the police spokesman in Ogun state, confirmed to PM News that one of the criminals was arrested.

Oyeyemi explained that the police successfully repelled the armed robbers who invaded the Tarmac phone market located in the Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta.

He said seven of the armed robbers escaped and a manhunt to apprehend them had commenced.

He explained that the gang, numbering about eight, stormed the market at about 5:30 p.m., shooting sporadically and dispossessing traders of expensive phones.

Oyeyemi said the robbers were forced to run by the combined firepower of the police and Amotekun Corps, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ibara Division, CSP Abayomi Adeniji.

“On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in a gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels.

”They were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru, 32, was apprehended.

“Unfortunately, one Dayo Bankole, a trader in the market, who was shot by the robbers gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye, Abeokuta,” he said.

The police spokesman stated that one double barrel locally made gun and charms were recovered from the suspect.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation.

He ordered a massive manhunt to arrest the remaining members of the gang and bring them to justice.

Mba appealed to members of the public and hospitals to inform the police of anybody with a gunshot injury.