UPDATE FROM KWARA: EYE-WITNESSES of OFFA ROBBERY ATTACK RECOUNT HORROR

Recently the Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed poured out his heartfelt sympathy to families of victims of the recent Offa robbery attack and to Kwarans generally. When BETH NEWS visited the scene where the incident occurred, an insider revealed that it was so disastrous and hard to believe. He further said, he is yet to believe what his eyes saw. But when he did a flashback, he remembered that the incident was similar to the one that occurred exactly April 2016, about three years ago, when some heartless robbers invaded four banks in Offa, creating serious havoc and bloodshed. He said: “I have to stop because, with what I saw, I can never bear the trauma without shedding tears.”

Going further in our investigation, another reliable source who briefed us about the scenario, says what convinced him was that those five banks that were robbed were situated within a market area, where people walk, buy and sell their goods. But on that fateful Thursday 5^th of April, about 30 men, mingled with some women, arrived in about 8 cars and parked in front of each of the banks. Nobody gleaned their intentions, since the environment was full of buying and selling of goods; though it was suspicious because the market was somehow scanty, with scanty vehicular movement, unlike every other day that traffic jam would be everywhere.

Another eye witness who was close to a female police constable who joined the Nigeria Police Force about a year ago but fell victim of the robbery attack, said they heard a deafening sound of detonated dynamiteAs people were wondering what the sound was, a few seconds later we heard sporadic gunshots at Owode Police Station. “Before you could say Jack Robinson, people had started running helter-skelter.“

According to another insider who claimed to be an OPC member but does not want his name to be mentioned in print, narrated his own version to BETH NEWS, saying he shot at one of the robbers but the bullets could not penetrate their bodies. He said three among the robbers turned and walked to him, and made a sound of warning by telling him to stay out of it.”With regards to Owode Police Station, all the police men and women who were on duty, including all suspects inside the cell, were shot dead. Among those reportedly killed by the robbers were a police officer, who was expected to retire in the next few months and a pregnant police woman. The robbers made away with millions of naira after shattering First Bank, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Ecobank buildings, terrorising workers, customers and passers-by, as well as traders and other people in the vicinity.” 

The source further said that some angry youths started throwing stones at the gunmen but they were turned back by the robbers, who used dynamite and gunfire. About 97 people who were recorded dead underwent mass burial. It was also said that no military or security operative confronted the robbers throughout the operation that lasted for 90 minutes. As cars and a police Hilux van were set ablaze, the robbers exited through the Igbosun route.

The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed to BETH NEWS the robbery operation, while Kwara Police Commissioner Owoseni has since visited the scenes of the robbery. The commissioner of police also deployed ace crime=buster Abba Kyari and his squad to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to book. The Governor of Kwara State also addressed the general public,.saying: “The tragic events at Offa have expectedly provoked diverse emotions and debate on the nature and extent of the attack. However, while such expressions are mostly well-intentioned, I urge all well-meaning citizens to resist any attempt by anyone to use the tragedy for political purposes. What has befallen us is too terrible and saddening for anyone to trivialize for selfish political gain.
Those utterances do not reflect our values as Kwarans and should stop, out of respect for the dead and injured. Rather, our people must be vigilant and security-conscious as part of community.”