… Otukpo Bank Attacks, an Affront to State Security- Gov. Alia
Attah Ede Makurdi
The Benue state Police command, on Sunday, said they have arrested four and killed two of the armed robbers that attacked five commercial banks in Otukpo last Friday.
Recalled that armed robbers numbering over 20, on Friday attacked five banks, killing at least nineteen persons and carted away undisclosed sum.
Confirming the incident, the command said the Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, John Adikwu and three other policemen were killed in the gun battle with the bank robbers who also killed many other civilians within and outside the bank premises.
The command PPRO, SP Sewuese Anene, in a press statement issued and made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said two of the bank robbers were killed during the gun battle with a team of security reinforcement along the Otukpo/Taraku Federal Highway with many of them scampering into the forest.
SP Anene further noted that the police are currently on the heels of the suspects with a view to apprehend them.
The Network had earlier reported that not more than 19 dead bodies have been found after the bank robbery in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State last Friday.
The robbers operated for two hours without challenge by security operatives.
According to sources in Otukpo, the robbers came in large numbers and attacked four commercial banks, most of which are located opposite the Otukpo Divisional Police Headquarters and closed to the Otukpo daily market.
Meanwhile, governor Hyacinth Alia, has condemned the armed robbery attacks, describing the incident as affront to state security.
The governor in a statement by his chief press secretary, Tersoo Kula, regretted that the robbers attacked innocent citizens who were carrying out their legitimate business transactions at the exact time security council meeting was ongoing at the Government House in Makurdi.
He expressed sympathy to the families of the victims of the robbery and promised to bring the criminals to justice.
“It is an unfortunate development that people who were on duty, especially police officers, were shot and killed in cold blood by those mindless robbers.
“But they cannot get away with this. Already, security agencies are on their trail and must apprehend and bring them to justice.”
“I therefore call on the people of the state to be vigilant and always endeavour to report suspicious movements around them at all times”, he stated.
