From Attah Ede Makurdi
A community leader, Mr. Adakole Ekwu, on Saturday, said 19 dead bodies have so far been found after armed robbers attacked and robbed five commercial banks in Otukpo, Otukpo local government area of Benue State on Friday.
The state Commissioner of police, Mr. Bartholomew Onyeka however, confirmed this morning (Saturday), that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Otukpo, CSP John Adikwu and three other police officers, died in the attacks.
The Police authority is yet to confirm the actual number of civilians killed during the incident as search for more dead bodies is still ongoing.
The Benue State Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Sewuese Anene, in a statement on behalf of the CP Onyeka, said on 20/10/2023 at about 1615hrs, armed robbers invaded Access, First, Zenith, UBA and Stanbic bank Otukpo simultaneously.
She said the Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP. John Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engaged the robbers in a gun dwell, but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks.
SP Anene explained that the robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process.
“Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are been chased by the police.
“The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital, while other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment”.
According to her, more police teams in collaboration with other security agents have been deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping, stressing that investigation is ongoing at the moment.
