At least two policemen were killed Friday afternoon as robbers committed dacoity in a branch of First Bank Plc in Nigeria's central north city of Okene in Kogi State.

State police spokesperson Shola Adebayo, who confirmed the incident, said one of the policemen was killed on the spot while his colleague died on the way to hospital.

He said the police had started trailing the robbers as investigation into the attack had commenced.

Local witnesses said the robbery suspects, numbering about five, invaded the premises of the bank at about 8.55 a.m.local time and shot sporadically into the air to scare away workers and customers.

About five policemen on duty were said to have responded swiftly by engaging the invaders in a gun duel at the end of which two of the policemen were felled.