21st October, 2023
By Emmanuel Antswen
Eyewitnesses have been speaking on a shocking coordinated armed robbery attack on three banks which claimed the lives of security operatives, bank customers, with yet to be specified amount of money carted away in Otukpo town, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State on Friday.
The well-armed robbers successfully robbed the three banks despite the fact that they were located opposite a police station.
While the Benue State Police Command confirmed the attack, it has not given details of the incident. However, eyewitnesses put the number of people killed by robbers during their rampage at between 7 and 10.
NAN quoted a credible source from Otukpo as confirming that the robbers operated for about two hours in an operation.
According to the source, the robbers had first taken out the Otukpo police station before they descended on the banks.
“We started hearing gunshots about 3pm; when I tried to verify I discovered that three banks were being robbed.
“Before they went to the banks, the armed robbers first attacked the Otukpo Police Station, disarmed the officers and were shooting indicriminately.
“All of them covered their faces and were in two hilux vans, a Toyota Matrix and another small car carrying out the robbery which lasted about one hour without any resistance.”
The source also said that the robbers left seven dead, including Police officers and a former councilor who was transacting business in one of the affected banks.
“The incidents caused huge stir in the town as residents, particularly traders were seen running helter skelter for dear lives.”
However, The Nation newspaper put the number of people killed by the robbers during their operation at about 10.
The newspaper listed those killed in the attack to include a councillor of Otukpo Ward 2, three policemen and four bank officials.
An eyewitness identified as Obande Adukwu told the newspaper that the armed robbers killed policemen guarding them immediately after they arrived for the operation.
Adukwu said the robbers operated for about two hours without challenge, moving cash from the banks into their getaway vehicles.