By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The death toll from the bloody bank robbery attacks that occurred over the weekend in Otukpo, Benue State, has risen to fourteen, according to reports filed today.
Mr. Muhammed Audu, Acting Chairman and Director General of Services and Administration (DGSA) for Otukpo Local Government Area in Benue State, confirmed the tragic incident. Audu stated that thirty armed robbers targeted the police station, vigilante office, and four commercial banks simultaneously in Otukpo. In addition to the fourteen fatalities, numerous individuals sustained various injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo, and other local hospitals.
The robbers, armed with sophisticated weapons, arrived in two Hilux vans and a car, launching a coordinated attack on the town’s commercial banks. The assailants killed several people, including police personnel and vigilante members, and injured many others before escaping with significant amounts of money.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Otukpo, Chief Superintendent John Adikwu, along with three other police officers and several civilians, lost their lives in the assault. The Benue State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Sewuese Anene, confirmed that security operatives engaged the robbers in a gun duel along the Otukpo-Taraku road. During the exchange, two robbers were shot dead, while the others fled into the nearby forest.
Anene’s statement reads: “On October 20, 2023, at about 4:15 pm, armed robbers simultaneously invaded Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA, and Stanbic Bank in Otukpo. The DPO sustained a gunshot injury to his stomach, leading to his demise and that of three other police officers. Injured individuals have been transported to the hospital, and a thorough investigation is underway to unravel the mysteries behind these heinous acts.”
Authorities urge heightened security measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, emphasizing the need for vigilant surveillance across the region.
