A gang of armed robbers   on Thursday raided some commercial banks in Offa,  Kwara, killing no fewer than six policemen and  six others including bank customers and passersby as well as  carting away an  undisclosed amount of   cash in the process. They operated for about one hour unchallenged.

Banks  affected by the raids are Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank, Union Bank and Eco Bank.

The heavily armed hoodlums  had attacked the Owode Police Station in the metropolis where they killed the policemen and some complainants  before they raided the banks.

Sources said some customers who were transacting businesses  in the banks were also killed in the incident which was said to have lasted one hour.

The robbers, according to eye witnesses, entered the town at about  4:45 pm and operated till about 5:40 pm unchallenged after blocking the Ilorin and Osogbo entrances  into the town.

They were said to have  later made their escape through Igosun, a nearby community.

Among those said to have been  killed by the armed robbers were  a police officer  who was expected to retire in the next   few months and a pregnant police woman.

The bandits numbering  at least 15, according to sources,  came in different vehicles  while  they stationed themselves at strategic locations within  the town while the operation lasted.

They were  also said to have snatched some motorcycles to aid their escape.

Those injured in the mayhem were conveyed to the General Hospital, Offa, for treatment while the corpses of the deceased have been evacuated.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state,  Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the  incident, saying victims included  policemen and other persons.

He said details of the incident  would be made public on completion of  investigation.

In the past, the town  had witnessed  serial attacks on banks leading to the closure of some  branches in the highly commercial community which houses the Federal Polytechnic, Offa.