Bank robbery hoax in Ilorin causes pandemonium

There as pandemonium yesterday morning when residents and motorists driving along Umaru Audi Road (Tanke Junction area) of Ilorin were thrown into confusion over alleged robbery of one of the commercial banks in the area. As the rumour thickened, many motorists avoided the route just as many shop owners hurriedly locked up to customers.

Sources told The Guardian in Ilorin that a middle-aged man, believed to have been under the influence of ‘Juju’, had stormed the banking hall with a bag, parking some bale of Naira notes with the hope of going away with same “under the protection of his ‘Juju.’

But under the false belief of invisibility, he was challenged by some of the bank workers who promptly alerted the police of his mission.

However, the Kwara State Police Command in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Okasanmi Ajayi, noted that “the unfounded news going round that armed robbers invaded a bank in Tanke area of Ilorin bringing about some level of panic and agitation in the people, was not true.

According to him, “the command wishes to state that what transpired was that a man strayed into the said bank and started packing monies on the bank counter, which eventually led to commotion in the banking hall. Policemen came in and arrested the suspect who was promptly taken away. Preliminary investigations however revealed that the suspect is of an unsound mind.

“Meanwhile peace has been restored and aggressive patrols of Ilorin has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Ag. Cp Kayode Egbetokun, to further instill confidence in members of the public and especially banks in the state. Finally, members of the public are advised to be conscious of happening around them and report any suspicions movement to the police.”