The death toll in commercial banks’ robberies that engulfed Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the State on Thursday, has risen to 11.

But the spokesman of the Nigeria police Command in the State, SP. Kotongs Bello had said two police personnel and four Civilians died in the attack.

The breached Banks — First Bank, Union Bank, Unity Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith located around the Duke (Onojie) of Uromi’s palace by the popular ‘Angle 90 junction’ in Uromi en route ‘Tazona junction’ while the gunmen exited through the Uromi-Ubiaja Road.

But a security report gleaned during the-on-the spot assessment visit led by the State Commissioner of police, CP Phillip Ogbadu to the crime scene on Friday, revealed that two police personnel and nine Civilians including mother and Child are among the casualties.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspected hoodlums numbering over 20 who rode in four cars and some motorcycles with sophisticated weapons, including dynamites which they allegedly invaded the banks with explosives.

It was learnt that the suspected hoodlums had invaded Uromi police station, which is few metres away.

A female police officer, while another male police man was killed at Zenith Bank. Other persons killed, including a child were killed.

The gunmen thereafter launched a simultaneous attack on the Banks where they looted undisclosed sum of money in sack bags and fled after about one hour.

Recalling his horrible ordeal, Mr. Okosun Akhere, a resident of Uromi town, said the robbers began their operations at about 5p.m, and held the town hostage for over one hour.

He alleged that the gunmen operated unchallenged throughout the period of the operation while eyewitness, Mrs. Eunice Ebosele a trader near Unity Bank in Uromi, said on sighting the robbers, she abandoned her wares and money, and scampered for safety.

It was further gathered that relics of the destruction at the banks were visible while residents who fled their homes during the attack have started returning home.

File: Photograph of one of the slain victims during the attacks on Banks in Uromi

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