Stray bullets kill two women in Kwara

ILORIN — Stray bullets allegedly fired by men of Kwara State police command killed two women around Oja-Oba area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, yesterday. Vanguard reliably gathered that the victims were at their duty point at Oja Oba central mosque, clearing refuse when they were suddenly hit by police stray bullets. They reportedly died on the spot. Vanguard, however, learnt that a team of Police officers in a patrol van belonging to Kwara State command on patrol around Ilorin central was chasing some car dealers at Oja-Oba, around Emir of Ilorin’s palace . police In a desperate attempt to nab the fleeing cars dealer, the police patrol team reportedly fired gun shots which unfortunately killed the two cleaners. Contacted, the Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Femi Fabode said though he was aware of the shooting around Oja-Oba area, he did not have the details at press time. He promised to give details of the shooting incident as soon as possible. Meanwhile, following last week’s bank robbery in Offa, fear of insecurity has gripped the commercial banks in Offa and Ilorin as they now close at noon. Banks around Taiwo Road, Unity Road and Challenge area which are commercial nerve centres of the state capital were already closed for businesses when Vanguard checked yesterday afternoon. Though notices found at their gates cite the coming Christmas celebration as reasons, but inside sources claimed fear of possible attack by armed robbers. Addressing a press conference in Ilorin, yesterday, the Commissioner of Police in the state Mr Agboola Oshodi Glover confirmed that seven police officers and three civilians(bank officials) were killed by the rampaging robbers in Offa, last Thursday. He sympathised with the families of the deceased and assured the people of Offa and Kwara State in general that ”the police in Kwara State will not rest on their oars until this gang of robbers is brought to book.” The police commissioner also said the command had beefed up security around Offa and Omu-Aran and indeed the entire state to ensure adequate security. He therefore appealed to residents in the state that the security of lives and property is highly guaranteed and the people should go about their lawful businesses and have confidence in the police in Kwara state