The Benue State Police Command has confirmed that armed robbers attacked Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, and Stanbic IBTC Bank in Otukpo simultaneously on October 20, 2023, resulting in casualties.
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Otukpo, Chief Superintendent, CSP, John Adikwu, and three other police officers also lost their lives during the violent bank robbery.
The robbers, armed with explosives and sophisticated weapons, killed several individuals. Police officers, vigilante members, and a local government councillor, were among those who lost their lives before the robbers fled with a significant amount of money.
Stability Restored
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, police teams engaged the robbers in a gun battle. They were however unable to prevent the attack on the banks. Additional security personnel were deployed to Otukpo to stabilize the situation and prevent the robbers from escaping.
Heroes
During the pursuit, officers intercepted the robbers along the Otukpo-Taraku road, leading to a gunfight in which two robbers were killed. The DPO and three other police officers sustained injuries and later succumbed to their wounds at the hospital. Those injured in the banks were promptly moved to the hospital for treatment, with ongoing investigations into the incident.
Security Measures
Special Adviser on Security to Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Col. Alex Igbaya, rtd, visited the crime scenes. He has expressed regret over the incident. He reassured residents of the state that stringent security measures had been put in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Igbaya praised the bravery of the police and other security agencies, highlighting the arrest of four criminals and the death of two others during the exchange of gunfire. He emphasized the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of crime in the state, warning criminals that they would be apprehended and brought to justice.
