Like the saying goes, once the head is rotten, other parts of the body are affected, this could be likened to the violence that characterised the Celebration of May 29, 2013, Democracy Day in Kwara State.

Kwara, fondly known as ‘State of Harmony’ was jolted by bank robberies at Omu-Aran, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of the State.

On 14th May, 2013, armed robbers numbering about 20, invaded the ancient community and attacked three commercial banks Commando-style, killing three people and escaping with an unspecified amount of money.

It was gathered that the bandits stormed the town around 6: 30 pm with sporadic gunshots in an operation that lasted for more than an hour.

Eye witness accounts also revealed that the robbers attacked the police division and deflated the tyres of the police armoured personnel carrier packed outside the station and thereafter invaded First Bank Plc, Union Bank and Ecobank all along Aperan way in the town using grenades and dynamites to break the door and the banks vaults.

An accountant with Union Bank identified as Gade and a driver were felled by the armed robber’s bullet in the course of breaking through the barriers mounted by the bank.

Also, a member of a vigilante group in the town identified as Dapo (Alias Igbin) was also gunned down before the armed robbers escaped with an unspecified amount of money.

Apparently disturbed by incessant armed robbery attacks in the community and police efforts yielding any positive result, youths in the town stormed the Omu-Aran police division as well as the Area Commander’s office to protest the invasion. The youth, armed with stones and other items at the station, were protesting the invasion of the banks with no response from the police.

In the course of showing their grievances, a police patrol vehicle was set ablaze by the youth while the police responded with tear-gas to disperse the surging youths.

As the robbers unleashed terror in the community, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agboola Oshodi Glover was at the Government House to pay courtesy visit to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The Kwara State Police Command through the Police Public Relation Officer(PPRO)DSP Olufemi Fabode, who confirmed the incident, said “the Kwara State Command regrets that on May 14, at about 18.00 at Omu Aran town, some hoodlums or armed robbery gang attacked the branches of First Bank, Union Bank and Eco-Bank of at Omu Aran town and made away with an undisclosed amount of money.

“The police in Omu Aran engaged the armed robbers in gun battle. The robbers threw explosives too on the mobile patrol vehicle while in the mission to stop the attackers. One of the mobile patrol vehicle was set ablaze, two of the banks officials and a viglilante man were killed by the armed robbers.”

He added that the police in Omu- Aran, with the help of mobile men and the SARS men from Ilorin engaged the robbers in a gun duel to repeal the attack while one AK 47 rifle and 14 rounds of live ammunition, two unexploded explosive devices were recovered.

Fabode also disclosed that some hoodlums in the town mobilized and attacked the station injuring the area commander. However, the tension in Omu-Aran has not faded away as all Commercial Banks operating in the town have shut down their doors since the incident.

Investigation conducted by our Correspondent showed that the Commercial Banks closure has compelled their customers including Civil Servants to travel to Offa, a journey of about an hour before collecting their salaries and undertake other banking services.

Similarly, others who could not do so come to Ilorin, the State capital to withdraw money in their respective bank accounts.

This, according to our findings increased the number of bank customers at various banks in Offa, Offa local government area and Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The robbery incidents in Omu-Aran could be described as one robbery, too many giving that no fewer than five incidents have been recorded in the ancient town in recent times. Each time they come visiting, they left sour taste in the mouths of their victims.

The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Oladele Ibitoye, who is also a first class traditional ruler in the state, has reportedly cursed the robbers and has canvassed for the posting of soldiers to the ancient town.

The monarch who expressed disgust when the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Glover visited the town to assess the situation, added: “I am not happy at all about the incessant robberies in my domain. I will appreciate it if government can send soldiers here to complement the efforts of the Police in combating this menace. This is one robbery, too many”.

Almost three weeks after the Omu-Aran incident, Ilorin, the State capital was awaken with wild protest by students of Kwara State Polytechnic, who were expressing grievance over an alleged shooting of a student, Ahmed Adewale of Accounting Department, Kwara State Polyteching on his way to school on Monday morning May 26,2013 along the Muritala Muhammed way by yet to be identified trigger-happy police officer attached to a Bank bullion van.

Despite the Kwara State government’s appeal to protesting students of the Kwara State Polytechnic to remain calm and avoid any action capable of disrupting peace and order, the protesters continued to occupy some major streets on Tuesday, a day ahead of May 29,2013 Democracy Day, and burnt down a van in Governor Ahmed’s team in

retaliation.

The State government in a statement issued in Ilorin by Secretary to the State Government, Alh. Sola Isiaka Gold, described as unfortunate the reported injury of a student by men of the Nigeria Police and called on the students to maintain the peace and not to allow miscreants to hijack their peaceful protests.

Gold assured the students that the state police command has commenced disciplinary proceedings against the police officer at the centre of the incident and would take action to forestall a re-occurrence of the sad incident.

According to Gold, while government recognises the students’ right to peaceful protest, the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone apprehended for breaking the law under any guise.

He urged parents not to allow their wards to be used for any acts of criminality.

The SSG called on the students to return to their various homes pending the reopening of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin which has been closed down following the incident.

Due to their wild protest, Governor Ahmed suddenly cancelled commissioning of Akerebiate-Sango road as few were awaiting the arrival of the governor before unleashing terror on the people. The thugs however descended on Ministry of Information staff who came with the van and public address system.

After a long battle with the thugs, a big generator was forcefully snatched away from the officials while a male staff was wounded in the course of struggle with them.