Offa banks robbery : Equip the police —ACF

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has implored the federal government to provide policemen with equipment and motivation as part of measures to tackle the incessant banks’ robbery in the country.

ACF was reacting to the recent banks’ attack in Offa, Kwara State by some armed and vicious robbers last week.

In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Friday and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu noted, ‘It was most unfortunate that innocent persons and security personnel were killed by the armed robbers while some persons sustained injuries.

ACF was, however, heartened by the prompt action of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in deploying Units of Mobile Police which led to the arrest of some of the perpetrators of this heinous crime and the following restoration of normalcy in Offa town.

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‘We, therefore, commend the action of the Police Command and urge the officers not to be deterred by the cowardly act of the criminals.

While ACF urges the Security Agencies to always be proactive by constantly reviewing their security and intelligence gathering strategy to avert such ugly incidence, we equally appeal to the Federal Government to provide the Nigerian Police Force with adequate trained police personnel, equipment and motivation in order to enhance their performance.

‘The communities should also play their role by providing useful information on suspected persons to the Security Agencies in order to help track down perpetrators and bring them to justice.

ACF extends its condolences to the bereaved families of victims, the Government and people of Kwara State over this unfortunate robbery and killings of innocent souls. May their souls rest in perfect peace.