Death toll rises after multiple robbery attacks in Offa, Kwara – In Pictures
NEWS DIGEST – The death toll after multiple and coordinated armed robbery attacks on five banks in Offa, Kwara state has risen as more corpses have been deposited in morgues.
The robbery, which lasted for about 1hr 15 minutes this evening, led to the death of some residents, bank officers and security operatives.
As confirmed by NEWS DIGEST, banks robbed include branches of Guarantee Trust Bank, EcoBank,First Bank,Union Bank and Zenith Bank.
According to an eyewitness, identified simply as Mrs. Tijani, she said the attackers came in large numbers and distributed themselves into different groups in carrying out the raids on the banks.
She added that the bandits detonated dynamite in the banks which instantly killed some victims including bank officials and security personnel.
“They used something like Bomb to break into Union Bank,” She told NEWS DIGEST.
Also, a student of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dennis Ifeoluwa, explained that gunshots and heavy sounds filled the air. Business activities and vehicular movement ceased at that moment.
“I was coming from where I’m undergoing my Industrial Training, I.T, when these sounds started. I had to hid myself somewhere.
“After a while they left. Only to discover dead bodies outside. I saw someone’s intestines outside today.”
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An indigene who also resides in the town, Mustapha Olayiwola, disclosed that coordinated robbery attacks have become annual rituals in Offa town.
“These robbers have turned this thing to an annual thing. Last year, like previous years, they robbed and now again.” Olayiwola lamented.
NEWS DIGEST learnt that the United Bank of Africa(UBA) and Unity Bank were raided in 2013 while Zenith Bank and others were robbed in 2014. The same happened in the year 2015, 2016 and 2017.
However, the spokesperson of the Police Force in the state, Peter Okasanmi, confirmed the incident.
“There was an Armed robbery attack in Offa and we have casualties amongst the Police officers and civilians.”
Okasanmi, who couldn’t provide figures of the death toll, assured that the police force had commenced investigations towards apprehending the suspects.
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