Three residents of Okeho town in Kajola local government area, Oyo State and a policeman have been reportedly killed in a clash between the Police, hunters and members of a vigilante group on Thursday.
The fight, Quick News Africa learnt, started when, following the raid on a branch of First Bank in the locality on Wednesday, residents captured a man suspected of being a part of the gang and were going about killing him, when policemen showed up, insistent on rescuing him and taking him into custody.
Four of the armed robbers were also said to have been killed by hunters who blocked the road and prevented them from escaping and the corpses later set ablaze by a mob.
The hunters were said to have pursued the other two robbers that escaped and, while one was arrested alive, the corpse of the injured one was recovered from the bush.
One of the residents who preferred not to be mentioned said: “there is a serious crisis in Okeho now.
“Somebody was accidentally shot dead by the police, while they were attempting to take away the armed robber arrested by the hunters.
“Residents also fought back and killed a policeman. This infuriated the policemen and they opened fire on the crowd and killed two more persons.”
The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo State Olugbenga Fadeyi, has not responded to the incident.
