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October 21, 2023
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that no fewer than six people were killed, when dare-devil armed robbers invaded four banks in Otukpo town in Benue State after disarming the police attached to the banks.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has condemned the bloody armed robbery attacks on some commercial banks in Otukpo town on Friday, describing the incident as an affront on the state.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that no fewer than six people were killed, when dare-devil armed robbers invaded four banks in Otukpo town in Benue State after disarming the police attached to the banks.
SaharaReporters had also gathered that three police officers, one vigilante and a councilor of Otukpo Ward 2 who was transacting business in one of the affected banks were among those killed.
The robbers were said to have first attacked the police station opposite the banks and disarmed all the operatives on duty before moving into the bank halls where they operated unhindered.
But reacting to the unfortunate incident on Saturday, Governor Alia, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula described the robbery incident as unacceptable and an affront on the state.
The Governor disclosed that the attacks were carried out at the exact time the security council meeting was in progress at the Government House, Makurdi.
Sympathising with the families of those who lost their lives to the robbery, he vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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 at all times.