Offa, Kwara State remained in shock yesterday, 24 hours after a
gang of robbers attacked five banks and a police station in the
town, leaving massive blood on their trail.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed yesterday that nine of
its personnel were killed by the robbers.
Seven other people lost their lives in the attacks, spokesman
for the command, Mr.Ajayi Okansanmi, told reporters in an update on
the mayhem.
Unofficial accounts yesterday said the death toll might have
risen to 23, including two policemen allegedly shot by the robbers
in Okuku, Osun State while returning from the operation.
Three vehicles were reportedly abandoned by them.
Angry residents called for an immediate review of the security
architecture for banks in Kwara State.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, reacting to the incident on his
Facebook wall, called it a despicable act committed by cruel
individuals.
He said he had spoken with Governor Fatah Ahmed on the
development and both of them agreed that no stone would be left
unturned until the bandits were found and prosecuted.
One of the casualties was said to be pregnant. Sources gave her
name as Omilola Korede.
She reportedly went to one of the banks to lodge a complaint
about a transaction.
She had gone to the bank with her young son but both of them
were sprayed with bullets.
Three other women identified as Bunmi Mesan, Iya Muji and Mama
Big Club, were also killed.
A survivor, who said he hid inside one of the banks during the
attack, was still in shock when he shared his ordeal with our
reporter yesterday.
He said: “My brother, it is not something to recall or witness.
I don’t even pray it for my enemies.
“I saw death staring at me and others. I still can’t talk much
about it.”
He pleaded not to be named.
The paramount ruler of the town, the Olofa, Oba Muftau
Gbadamosi, was lost for words when he was contacted yesterday.
He said the destruction that came with the robbery was
enormous.
A colloquium on the community scheduled for today (Saturday) was
shifted to April 14, following the incident.
Offa community leaders spent much of yesterday discussing the
robbery incident and resolved to hold a larger meeting of Offa sons
and daughters on Sunday, April 29.
Senate President Saraki said: “Make no mistake, there will never
be any valid grounds or rationale behind such violence that has
left many families without their loved ones – and one more
community in grief and shock.
“Last night, I spoke to Governor Ahmed to express my condolence
on the lives that were lost in the attack, and we both agree that
no stone will be left unturned until the perpetrators of this
heinous act are caught and brought to justice.
“It is also important that we all work together to ensure that
this does not reoccur. We all must co-operate at various levels to
increase the security of our communities.
“I pray that the souls of those that we lost yesterday are
granted places amongst the righteous ones.
“My prayers and support will continue to be extended to all the
affected families, and we will remain relentless until everyone who
planned or carried out this attack faces the full wrath of the
law.”
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, condemned the
banditry, calling it barbaric, disheartening and ungodly.
He urged clerics across the state to use yesterday’s Jumat
service for special prayers for the nation, especially Kwara
State.
Asked to assess the situation yesterday, a security expert, Mr.
Banjo Famuyiwa, said he could not understand the low presence of
police personnel in the town, given its large population and number
of banks.
The Chief Executive Officer of PlaySafe Lifecare Foundation
said: “The number of policemen available to the community is low,
given the population and number of banks.
“The police post is also very close to the road. There are no
strong barriers. Once you branch off the road, the next thing is
the station.
“In some countries, you allow banks to use their personal
security, and I think we should do the same here instead of wasting
the lives of our policemen again and again.
“There should be no law forbidding banks from having their own
security.”
An Ilorin-based group, Kwara Rebirth Ambassadors demanded an
overhaul of the security architecture of the state.
It said: “This latest bloody bank robbery in Offa town has left
in its trail several salient questions begging for answers, and it
won’t be out of place to demand for a complete overhaul of the
security architecture of the state, as the armed bandits have
severally proven the porosity and poor policing of our inter-state
borders among other noticeable shortcomings.
“A visit to Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and other sister states
will see the strategic positioning of Armoured Personnel Career
(APC) in and around the state.
“That is a clear show of readiness to combat security challenges
as it arises.
“Armed bandits, violent cultist, touts and thugs have combined
to hold the state to ransom in the last 10 days in Ilorin and
Offa.”
Also speaking on the development, the Executive Director of
Community Outreach for development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA),
Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, said Nigerians should be worried about the
incessant bank robbery attacks in Offa.
Offa, Kwara State remained in shock yesterday, 24 hours after a
gang of robbers attacked five banks and a police station in the
town, leaving massive blood on their trail.
The Kwara State Police Command confirmed yesterday that nine of
its personnel were killed by the robbers.
Seven other people lost their lives in the attacks, spokesman
for the command, Mr.Ajayi Okansanmi, told reporters in an update on
the mayhem.
Unofficial accounts yesterday said the death toll might have
risen to 23, including two policemen allegedly shot by the robbers
in Okuku, Osun State while returning from the operation.
Three vehicles were reportedly abandoned by them.
Angry residents called for an immediate review of the security
architecture for banks in Kwara State.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, reacting to the incident on his
Facebook wall, called it a despicable act committed by cruel
individuals.
He said he had spoken with Governor Fatah Ahmed on the
development and both of them agreed that no stone would be left
unturned until the bandits were found and prosecuted.
One of the casualties was said to be pregnant. Sources gave her
name as Omilola Korede.
She reportedly went to one of the banks to lodge a complaint
about a transaction.
She had gone to the bank with her young son but both of them
were sprayed with bullets.
Three other women identified as Bunmi Mesan, Iya Muji and Mama
Big Club, were also killed.
A survivor, who said he hid inside one of the banks during the
attack, was still in shock when he shared his ordeal with our
reporter yesterday.
He said: “My brother, it is not something to recall or witness.
I don’t even pray it for my enemies.
“I saw death staring at me and others. I still can’t talk much
about it.”
He pleaded not to be named.
The paramount ruler of the town, the Olofa, Oba Muftau
Gbadamosi, was lost for words when he was contacted yesterday.
He said the destruction that came with the robbery was
enormous.
A colloquium on the community scheduled for today (Saturday) was
shifted to April 14, following the incident.
Offa community leaders spent much of yesterday discussing the
robbery incident and resolved to hold a larger meeting of Offa sons
and daughters on Sunday, April 29.
Senate President Saraki said: “Make no mistake, there will never
be any valid grounds or rationale behind such violence that has
left many families without their loved ones – and one more
community in grief and shock.
“Last night, I spoke to Governor Ahmed to express my condolence
on the lives that were lost in the attack, and we both agree that
no stone will be left unturned until the perpetrators of this
heinous act are caught and brought to justice.
“It is also important that we all work together to ensure that
this does not reoccur. We all must co-operate at various levels to
increase the security of our communities.
“I pray that the souls of those that we lost yesterday are
granted places amongst the righteous ones.
“My prayers and support will continue to be extended to all the
affected families, and we will remain relentless until everyone who
planned or carried out this attack faces the full wrath of the
law.”
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, condemned the
banditry, calling it barbaric, disheartening and ungodly.
He urged clerics across the state to use yesterday’s Jumat
service for special prayers for the nation, especially Kwara
State.
Asked to assess the situation yesterday, a security expert, Mr.
Banjo Famuyiwa, said he could not understand the low presence of
police personnel in the town, given its large population and number
of banks.
The Chief Executive Officer of PlaySafe Lifecare Foundation
said: “The number of policemen available to the community is low,
given the population and number of banks.
“The police post is also very close to the road. There are no
strong barriers. Once you branch off the road, the next thing is
the station.
“In some countries, you allow banks to use their personal
security, and I think we should do the same here instead of wasting
the lives of our policemen again and again.
“There should be no law forbidding banks from having their own
security.”
An Ilorin-based group, Kwara Rebirth Ambassadors demanded an
overhaul of the security architecture of the state.
It said: “This latest bloody bank robbery in Offa town has left
in its trail several salient questions begging for answers, and it
won’t be out of place to demand for a complete overhaul of the
security architecture of the state, as the armed bandits have
severally proven the porosity and poor policing of our inter-state
borders among other noticeable shortcomings.
“A visit to Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and other sister states
will see the strategic positioning of Armoured Personnel Career
(APC) in and around the state.
“That is a clear show of readiness to combat security challenges
as it arises.
“Armed bandits, violent cultist, touts and thugs have combined
to hold the state to ransom in the last 10 days in Ilorin and
Offa.”
Also speaking on the development, the Executive Director of
Community Outreach for development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA),
Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, said Nigerians should be worried about the
incessant bank robbery attacks in Offa.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/we-lost-nine-officers-to-offa-robbery-police/