Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered police operatives to comb Benue State and other neighbouring states in search of the fleeing armed robbers that raided some banks in the Otukpo area of the state.
This is just aspolice operatives in Benue State intercepted and killed two of the fleeing robbers on Friday evening.
Recall that the robbers, who were armed to teeth, invaded five commercial banks –First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, Access and Stanbic Bank– on Friday evening and carted away an unspecified amount of money.
During the daring operation, the robbers also killed four policemen and about three other civilians.
While condemning the incident and killing of police officers, the Inspector-General of Police described the act as an “assault on the principles of peace, security, and justice that the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies work tirelessly to uphold.”
According to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police authorities disclosed that it had initiated a comprehensive and coordinated effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The efforts include the deployment of additional operational and investigative assets and resources to Otukpo, the Benue State Command, and surrounding states to assist in the swift apprehension of the other fleeing robbers.
The statement explained that the IGP extended his heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims who were affected by the incident.
The IGP also noted that the assailants have indeed “murdered sleep” in the state as their actions have shaken the Otukpo community to its core while assuring the public that every resource and effort would be dedicated to ensuring that these individuals were swiftly apprehended and brought to justice.
The statement further revealed that the IGP has put all commands and formations on red alert to avert any further deadly attacks in the country, adding that the Otukpo attack was an early warning sign of the Ember Month challenges which was often characterised by bank robbery and other related crimes.
In a separate statement, the Benue State Police Command said its operatives intercepted and killed two of the fleeing robbers along Otukpo-Taraku road.
The statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, on Saturday, disclosed that four police officers, including the Otukpo divisional police officer were killed when security agents engaged the robbers in a gun duel during the robbery incident.
“The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Adikwu, and other police teams in the area engaged them in a gun duel but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks.
“More police teams in collaboration with other security agents were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilising the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.
“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 being chased by the police.
“The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury in his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital.
“Other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment. Investigation is ongoing at the moment,” the statement read.
Benue’s Day of Rage
For many residents of Otukpo, Friday was like any other last day of the week, until the daredevil robbers took the ancient town by storm, bared their fangs and unleashed terror around 3:35pm.
“The manner the armed robbers carried out the operation shows that it was well planned and executed,” a resident who simply identified himself as Tony said.
Narrating further, Tony said that the armed robbers either familiar with the entire area or had conducted a proper surveillance on the community.
According to him, ass soon as the robbers arrived the community, they separated into groups.
“Four persons were attached to each of the five banks while four others were deployed to Otukpo police division,” he said.
A 30-year-old commercial driver who plies Makurdi/Otukpo route, Abah, told Sunday Tribune that four people stationed themselves at the police station, corroborating Tony’s narration.
“The three female police officers who were at the entrance of the station were gunned down on the spot. Two of the robbers laid siege at the main road, the other two entered and went round until they got to the DPO’s office. They shot him through the window,” Abah narrated.
Additional reports pieced together indicated that the operation went on simultaneously at the five banks and the police station.
While one robber each was stationed outside the gates of the banks, three others went to the banking halls and operated.
About six people were reportedly killed within the premises of UBA including a former councillor in Outkpo LGA, while many others were injured. The injured people are currently receiving treatment at the Federal University of Health Science Teaching Hospital and Royal Specialist Hospital both in Otukpo.
Among those killed is a young man identified as Emmanuel Uche, who recently completed his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme. He was said to have assumed duty as a bank staff about a week ago.
After the operation, the robbers left in an Hilux van and a car.
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has condemned the robbery attack on Otukpo.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Kula Tersoo, the governor described the robbery incident as an affront on the state, especially that it took place at the exact time the security council meeting was in progress in Government House, Makurdi.
He said: “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.”
He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and always endeavour to report suspicious movements around them all the time.
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