Tension In Ekiti NYSC Camp Over Robbery Operation

There was palpable tension yesterday at Ise/Orun/Emure Ekiti as armed robbery operation in one of the towns was mistaken for a terrorist attack on the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) orientation camp. The robbers, who stormed Orun Ekiti, with the intention of robbing a wholesale beer distributor in the town had their attempt foiled by some security men and youths.

The armed robbery attempt caused panic in the town as people were said to run for cover as they erroneously believed that they were terrorists.

News that terrorists had invaded the NYSC Orientation Camp located in Ise-Orun/Emure communities later spread into the towns.

The apprehension became tense when the incident was placed on the facebook, twitter and other social media that terrorists had invaded Ekiti.

An eyewitness report had it that when the armed robbers had their attempt foiled, they started shooting sporadically into the air to scare people away and pave way for their escape from the town.

They were said to have hijacked a Toyota vehicle from a motorist and fled the scene.

But the police, who were said to have been alerted by the sporadic shooting, were said to have trailed them towards Emure/Akoko side, where the robbers abandoned the car and fled into the bush.

The public relations officer of the state police command, Mr Victor Olu Babayemi, confirmed that the vehicle was recovered and that one of the robbers was shot during a gun-duel with the police.

In a statement made available to newsmen, the state commissioner of police, Mr Sotonye Wakama, dispelled the rumour of terror attack.

The statement reads in part, “The attention of the command has been drawn to the news making the rounds that Ekiti State NYSC orientation camp was attacked by an extremist group. We wish to state categorical that the news is false.

There was no attack or attempted attack by any group on the orientation camp.

“However, the news may have originated from the attempted armed robbery attack at the premises of known beer wholesaler in Orun-Ekiti, a town of about one and a half kilometres from the camp.

“The armed robbery was, nevertheless, foiled when a distress call sent to the police was promptly responded to. The armed robbers on sighting the police opened fire and were engaged in a gun duel as a result of which one of them was shot. Others later abandoned some of their arms and fled into the bush.

“Two locally made double-barrel guns and a car were recovered from the scene. Detectives are on the trail of the hoodlums with a view to get them arrested and bring them to justice. This incident has nothing to do with the NYSC orientation camp.

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