• Police chief: Tokyo, Auxiliary still wanted

The Oyo State Police Command yesterday paraded the body of a suspected armed robber who was killed during a shootout with the police.

It said a policeman also died during the gun battle.

Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu said the suspected robber was killed on the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road when a group of robbers engaged the police in a gun duel.

The police chief said his command was alerted by the Kwara State Command that a team of armed robbers had robbed a bank in the state and escaped to Oyo State through the road.

He said he mobilised the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to ambush the robbers, adding that the hoodlums shot the driver of the SARS vehicle.

Mbu explained that the 10-man gang abandoned their Golf Volkswagen car, after it was destroyed by bullets, and snatched a Toyota Hilux van belonging to a popular telecommunications company.

The police chief said the hoodlums threw dynamites at the SARS team, killing one of its men and injuring three others.

He said the injured were undergoing surgery at a hospital.

Mbu said: "Early this morning, during our search, we have recovered the body of one of the suspected robbers that operated in Ilorin yesterday. We have recovered a full magazine load of AK 47 rifle. One of our men died and two other SARS men were injured and being treated at a hospital."

The police chief urged hospitals and the public to report at the nearest police station if they notice anybody with bullet wounds.

He said the command would comb the state for the escaped bandits.

Mbu also said the two former factional leaders of the state branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Abdul Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo) and Mr Lamidi Mukaila (aka Auxiliary), were still on the police wanted list.

He urged the two of them to report to the command and make statements on June, last year's killing of some residents and other violent incidents.

The police chief explained that the union leaders can run but cannot hide from justice.

He added that the command was not restrained by any law or judgment from arresting Tokyo or anyone else involved in the violence in which some people were kiled.

Mbu said the command would ensure that the current peace in Oyo State is sustained.

He said: "Tokyo and Auxilliary are still wanted by the Oyo State Police Command. If they are not guilty, they should come forward and explain their roles in the killing of those victims last year…"

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