A 27-year-old barber, Mr. Olawunmi Agboola, who was hit by a stray bullet allegedly from the police is languishing in the hospital.

Agboola sustained bullet injuries during a shootout between some policemen and robbers, who robbed three banks in Omu Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday

The robbers, numbering about 20 had, during the operation, killed two bank workers and a vigilance group member and carted away unspecified amount of money, before escaping.

Agboola, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Omu Aran following the bullet wound, told our correspondent on Thursday that he was returning from a fuel station when the stray bullet hit him on the right leg.

He said he was later rushed to a nearby hospital by some Good Samaritans.

He said, “The doctor told me that I needed to be transferred to a better hospital; either the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital or any other reputable hospital, possibly in Lagos.”

Agboola said he was, however, financially handicapped to foot his current bill and to proceed for the next treatment.

He pleaded with the government, Nigeria Police and philanthropists to save him. He feared that if nothing urgent was done, he might be amputated.

He said, “Right now, I just managed to pay small amount of money for my treatment. The money I paid is not even enough for the treatment I have received so far. And the doctor said that I should be taken to another hospital for better treatment. I do not even have any other money or any source of getting the money.”

Meanwhile the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, said the Area Commander, Omu Aran, Mr. Olatunji Ayodele, and three other policemen were injured after youths protested against the inability of the police to apprehend the robbers.

He added that the policemen were currently receiving treatment. He confirmed that two bank officials and a vigilante died when the armed robbers attacked the banks.

Fabode also said unspecified amount of money was carted away by the robbers.

He said, “A team of intelligence officers from the state headquarters have been drafted to beef up intelligence at Omu Aran. Two teams of riot policemen have equally been deployed to unravel those behind the crime and bring them to book.”

The PPRO also said the new Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agboola Glover-Oshodi, had visited the crime scene and assured Omu Aran residents of the safety of their lives and property.

Fabode said, “The police in Omu Aran engaged the armed robbers in gunfight. The robbers threw explosives at the mobile patrol vehicle. One of the mobile patrol vehicles was set ablaze, two of banks’ officials and a vigilante official were killed. One AK 47 rifle, 14 live ammunition, and two unexploded explosive devices were recovered.”