It was gathered that the incident caused panic in the area as people scampered to safety to avoid being shot.

A Nigerian trader, who has been identified as Dayo Bankole, has been killed, The PUNCH reports.

The trader was on Wednesday shot dead, while several others were injured during a robbery attack at a popular phone market, otherwise known as “computer village” in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The PUNCH correspondent gathered that an eight-man gang of armed robbers stormed the market, located at Ibara, the commercial centre of Abeokuta on motorcycles in broad daylight and started shooting sporadically.

It was gathered that the incident caused panic in the area as people scampered to safety to avoid being shot.

However, the traders later summoned the courage to go after their attackers and got one of them arrested.

The PUNCH correspondent further gathered that the deceased died while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Ijaye Abeokuta.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police “successfully repelled the armed robbery gang.”

Oyeyemi in a statement on Thursday morning said, “The armed robbery gang stormed the market at about 5:30 p.m, started shooting sporadically, and carting away expensive phones.”

He disclosed that a distress call was made to the police at Ibara division and the DPO of Ibara division, Abayomi Adeniji, immediately mobilised his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of the Amotekun corps to the scene.

He said, “The armed robbery gang numbering about eight, stormed the market popularly known as “TARMARC” at about 5:30 p.m, started shooting sporadically and carting away expensive phones.

“Distress call was quickly made to the police at Ibara divisional headquarters, consequence upon which the DPO Ibara division, CSP Abayomi Adeniji quickly mobilised his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of Amotekun corps and moved to the scene.

“On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels.

“They were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru 32-year-old was apprehended.

“Unfortunately, one Dayo Bankole, a trader in the market, who was shot by the robbers gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye Abeokuta.

“Recovered from the arrested robber are one double barrel locally made gun and assorted Criminal charms.”

The PPRO, however, said the outgoing Commissioner of Police now AIG, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation.

Oyeyemi said he equally ordered a massive manhunt for the remaining members of the gang with the view to bringing them to justice.

He, therefore, appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with a gunshot injury is seen in their area.