Armed Robbers Attack Banks, Killing 8 Including Policemen in Otukpo, Benue State.
In a shocking incident that unfolded in Otukpo, the headquarters of the Benue South Senatorial District, a group of armed men launched a brazen attack on selected commercial banks on a fateful Friday afternoon. The audacious operation, which lasted about an hour, saw the assailants employing explosives and sophisticated weaponry.
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The horrific incident claimed the lives of eight individuals, among them police personnel, vigilant group members, and a serving Councillor who happened to be inside one of the affected commercial banks when the armed assailants stormed the premises. This incident sent shockwaves through the ancient town, inciting panic among residents.
According to an eyewitness, the hooded armed men initiated their operation by attacking the local police station, successfully disarming all personnel on duty. They then proceeded to the town’s main commercial banks.
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The eyewitness provided a harrowing account of the ordeal: “The entire operation started at about 3 pm, when approximately ten armed men arrived in Toyota Hilux vehicles and another smaller car at Zenith Bank. There, they detonated explosives within the bank and proceeded to fire their weapons indiscriminately.”
The chaos that ensued during the attacks resulted in widespread destruction, with cars near the banks, along with goods in nearby shops, sustaining considerable damage. The proximity of the banks to the local market amplified the impact of the explosions.
“The explosions created pandemonium in the town,” the eyewitness recounted, “and people started running in different directions for their lives. In the midst of the confusion, the armed men successfully robbed Zenith Bank, UBA, and First Bank. They also killed eight individuals, including some of the police personnel assigned to the banks and several members of the Otukpo vigilante group who attempted to confront them.”
Among the casualties was a serving Councillor who happened to be conducting business inside one of the banks when the assailants struck. Following the successful bank heists, the armed men fled the scene with bags of money, firing their weapons into the air to intimidate the populace. They then made their getaway towards Makurdi via the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, shooting sporadically as they went, creating further panic in the town.
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HRH Chief John Eimonye, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, confirmed the tragic events, stating that security personnel were in hot pursuit of the armed robbers. He assured the public that the perpetrators would not escape justice. Security forces, including soldiers and the police, were tirelessly pursuing the culprits.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident but was awaiting further details from police personnel on the ground in Otukpo.
As investigations continue, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this violent and unsettling attack, while authorities work to bring the perpetrators to justice
