Many commercial banks in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Friday at about 1pm hurriedly closed operations as a rumour of an impending robbery attack filtered into the town.

The move by the banks was seen as a precautionary measure against robbery attack.

One of the security men of one of the banks, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that they got information that armed robbers might raid the banks anytime.

He added that they were asked to close so as not to be affected by the rumoured attacks and the resultant possible loss of personnel and depositors’ money.

One of the branch managers, who had yet to close, told our correspondent in confidence that he was aware of the robbery scare and was tidying up to getting clearance from the bank’s head office so as to close the bank’s operation for Friday.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the robbery attack in Offa during the week has risen to 10, a source said on Friday.

Bandits had attacked a Divisional Police station in Offa and some banks in the town on Thursday.

It was gathered that a branch manager of one of the the affected banks (name withheld), who was serious injured during the robbery operation, died on Friday morning  in the hospital where he was rushed to for treatment.

According to him, police officers and  a bank official were among the dead victims.

The source, who visited Offa General Hospital and its mortuary on Friday morning, stated that he counted no fewer than 10 dead bodies that had been deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.