Police react to Offa robbery – We lost nine officers to bank robbery in Offa, Kwara

24 hours after a gang of robbers raided five banks and a police station, leaving great blood in their trail, the town of Offa  Kwara State, has remained in shock. Yesterday, the Kwara State Police Command affirmed that nine of its personnel were killed by the robbers.

In an update on the mayhem, the spokesman for the command, Mr. Ajayi Okansanmi, told reporters that seven other people lost their lives in the attacks. There were unofficial accounts which said that the death toll might have risen to twenty-three, including two policemen allegedly shot by the robbers in Okuku, Osun State while returning from the operation. In addition, they reportedly abandoned three vehicles.

Since the incident, angry residents have called for a prompt review of the security structure for banks in Kwara State.Reacting to the ugly event on his Facebook wall, Senate President Bukola Saraki called it a despicable act perpetuated by cruel individuals. He said that he and Governor Fatah Ahmed have agreed that the bandits would be found and prosecuted by all means.ended up being sprayed with bullets. Three other women identified as Bunmi Mesan, Iya Muji and Mama Big Club, were casualties too.

An eye witness who said he hid inside one of the banks during the attack, was still in shock when he shared his story yesterday. Pleading anonymity, he said:

“My brother, it is not something to recall or witness. I don’t even pray it for my enemies.

I saw death staring at me and others. I still can’t talk much about it.”

The paramount ruler of the town, the Olofa, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi, was short of words when he was contacted yesterday. He said that the death that came with the robbery was too big.Offa community leaders spent a greater part of yesterday discussing the robbery incident and decided to hold a larger meeting of Offa sons and daughters on Sunday, April 29.

Senate President Saraki said:

“Make no mistake, there will never be any valid grounds or rationale behind such violence that has left many families without their loved ones – and one more community in grief and shock.

Last night, I spoke to Governor Ahmed to express my condolence on the lives that were lost in the attack, and we both agree that no stone will be left unturned until the perpetrators of this heinous act are caught and brought to justice.

It is also important that we all work together to ensure that this does not reoccur. We all must co-operate at various levels to increase the security of our communities.

I pray that the souls of those that we lost yesterday are granted places amongst the righteous ones.

My prayers and support will continue to be extended to all the affected families, and we will remain relentless until everyone who planned or carried out this attack faces the full wrath of the law.”

The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, condemned the robbery, calling it barbaric, disheartening and ungodly. He urged clerics across the state to use yesterday’s Jumat service for special prayers for the nation, especially Kwara State.

While assessing the situation yesterday, a security expert, Mr. Banjo Famuyiwa, said that the low presence of police personnel in the town, even with its large population and number of banks, is quite alarming.

The Chief Executive Officer of PlaySafe Lifecare Foundation said:

“The number of policemen available to the community is low, given the population and number of banks.

The police post is also very close to the road. There are no strong barriers. Once you branch off the road, the next thing is the station.

In some countries, you allow banks to use their personal security, and I think we should do the same here instead of wasting the lives of our policemen again and again.

There should be no law forbidding banks from having their own security.”

An Ilorin-based group, ‘Kwara Rebirth Ambassadors’ demanded a review of the security structure of the state. It said:

“This latest bloody bank robbery in Offa town has left in its trail several salient questions begging for answers, and it won’t be out of place to demand for a complete overhaul of the security architecture of the state, as the armed bandits have severally proven the porosity and poor policing of our inter-state borders among other noticeable shortcomings.

A visit to Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Ekiti and other sister states will see the strategic positioning of Armoured Personnel Career (APC) in and around the state.

That is a clear show of readiness to combat security challenges as it arises.

Armed bandits, violent cultist, touts and thugs have combined to hold the state to ransom in the last 10 days in Ilorin and Offa.”