Two policemen and two civilians were on Thursday killed by armed robbers numbering seven that attacked a cash-laden bullion van in the Idi Ape area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
It was learnt that the robbers made away with an unspecified amount of cash in the attack that occurred around 1 pm.
The bullion van was said to be coming from Iwo Road Area when it was attacked by the robbers who shot sporadically into the air to scare away passersby.
An eyewitness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the robbers drove in a white Toyota Sienna space bus from where they engaged the police officers escorting the van in a gun duel.
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The witness said that two police officers lost their lives while others got injured during the crossfire and stray bullet also killed two other civilians that included a motorcyclist.
The witness said that the robbers later forced the bullion van open with a gun and carted away unspecified amount of money.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ngozi Onadeko, who visited the scene of the crime confirmed the death of two police officers, saying they were shot in the neck.
Onadeko also said that the officers killed one of the robbers but the corpse was taken away by the robbery gang.
She said that the state had been locked down to prevent the robbers from escaping from the state.
The CP said that the police in conjunction with other security agencies in the state were collaborating to arrest the robbers, adding that more details would be provided to the public on the matter.