Benue bank robbery: DPO, three officers killed – Police

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The Benue state Police command has disclosed four personnel including a Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) and three other police officers were killed during the bank robbery in Otukpo town of the state, last Friday.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Batholomew Onyeka, who disclosed this in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, and made available to newsmen on Saturday, in Makurdi, said five commercial banks were raided by the armed robbers

The statement explained that the banks which include Access, First, Zenith, UBA and Stanbic were raided by the armed robbers simultaneously.

According to him, “On 20/10/2023 at about 1615hrs, armed robbers invaded Access, First, Zenith, UBA and Stanbic bank Otukpo simultaneously.

“The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP. John Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engaged them in a gun dwell but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks.”

The commissioner said more police teams in collaboration with other security agents were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.

“The robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process.

“Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are been chased by the police.

“The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital.

“Other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment. Investigation is ongoing at the moment,” he said.