Eyewitnesses have been speaking on a shocking coordinated armed robbery attack on three banks which claimed the lives of security operatives, bank customers, with yet to be specified amount of money carted away in Otukpo town, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday.
The well-armed robbers successfully robbed the three banks despite the fact that they were located opposite a police station.
While the Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack, it has not given details of the incident. However, eyewitnesses put the number of people killed by robbers during their rampage at between 7 and 10.
NAN quoted a credible source from Otukpo as confirming that the robbers operated for about two hours in an operation.
According to the source, the robbers had first taken out the Otukpo police station before they descended on the banks.
“We started hearing gunshots about 3pm; when I tried to verify I discovered that three banks were being robbed.
“Before they went to the banks, the armed robbers first attacked the Otukpo Police Station, disarmed the officers and were shooting indicriminately.
“All of them covered their faces and were in two hilux vans, a Toyota Matrix and another small car carrying out the robbery which lasted about one hour without any resistance.”
The source also said that the robbers left seven dead, including Police officers and a former councilor who was transacting business in one of the affected banks.
“The incidents caused huge stir in the town as residents, particularly traders were seen running helter skelter for dear lives.”
However, The Nation newspaper put the number of people killed by the robbers during their operation at about 10.
The newspaper listed those killed in the attack to include a councillor of Otukpo Ward 2, three policemen and four bank officials.
An eyewitness identified as Obande Adukwu told the newspaper that the armed robbers killed policemen guarding them immediately after they arrived for the operation.
Adukwu said the robbers operated for about two hours without challenge, moving cash from the banks into their getaway vehicles.

‘An affront to Benue’ – Gov. Alia fumes over deadly Otukpo bank robberies
By Emmanuel Antswen
Benue governor Hyacinth Alia has assured that perpetrators of the coordinated bank robberies in Otukpo town, Otukpo Local Government Area of the State cannot get away with it as security agencies are on their trail.
he Governor said the deadly gunmen must be apprehended and brought to justice in a statement in a statement on Friday signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula.
The Governor noted that the armed robbers struck at the exact time the Security Council Meeting was in progress in Government House Makurdi, describing the incident as an affront to the state.
He also strongly condemned the dastardly operations and assured that the perpetrators would be brought to book.
He specifically sympathized with the families of those gruesomely murdered by the robbers during the operation and prayed to God to grant them eternal rest.
“It is an unfortunate development that people who were on duty, especially police officers, were shot and killed in cold blood by the 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 said.
He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and always endeavour to report suspicious movements around them at all times.
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NAN reports that the Police Command in the state also confirmed the incidents but refused to give any details.
However, a credible source from Otukpo claimed that the robberies took place for about 2hrs.
“We started hearing gunshots about 3 pm; when I tried to verify I discovered that three banks were being robbed.
“Before they went to the banks, the armed robbers first attacked the Otukpo Police Station, disarmed the officers and were shooting indiscriminately.
“All of them covered their faces and were in two Hilux vans, a Toyota Matrix and another small car carrying out the robbery which lasted about one hour without any resistance.”
The source also said that the robbers left seven dead, including Police officers and a former councillor who was transacting business in one of the affected banks.
“The incidents caused huge stir in the town as residents, particularly traders were seen running helter skelter for dear lives.”

By Emmanuel Antswen

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