The Benue State Police command arrested four and killed two of the suspected robbers who attacked four commercial banks in Otukpo.
Some robbers on Friday attacked commercial banks in Otukpo, killing at least 10 persons and carted away undisclosed sum.
Confirming the incident, the command said the Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, John Adikwu said three other policemen were killed in the gun battle with the bank robbers who also killed many others within and outside the bank premises.
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Spokesperson for the command, SP Sewuese Anene, in a press statement issued on Saturday saying two of the bank robbers were killed during the gun battle with a team of security reinforcement along the Otukpo/Taraku Federal Highway with many of them scampering into the forest.
SP Anene further noted that the police are currently on the heels of the suspects with a view to apprehend them.
The robbers operated for two hours without being challenged by security operatives.
According to sources in Otukpo, the robbers came in numbers and attacked four commercial banks, most of which are located opposite the Divisional Police Headquarters.
Meanwhile, governor Hyacinth Alia, has condemned the armed robbery attacks.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Alia, Tersoo Kulo, the governor described the robbery incident as an affront on the state; especially that it took place at the exact time the Security Council meeting was in progress in Government House, Makurdi.
The Governor commiserated with the families of those who were gruesomely murdered by the robbers during their operations.
Recall that daredevil robbers on Friday attacked and robbed three first generation banks in Otukpo, headquarters of Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue state, killing eight persons in the process.
It was gathered that the robbers who came in their numbers were loaded in two Hilux vans and a smaller car and were seen heading towards the Otukpo/Taraku highway after the incident.
Prior to the siege laid on the banks, the robbers had attacked the police station in Otukpo town and disarmed the men on duty, before carrying out the robbery operation, which lasted for well over one hour.
An eye witness told us that eight persons were killed in the wake of the attack.
He explained that three of those killed during the incident were policemen and a vigilante. Others who lost their lives were three persons that were killed in the banks.
It was also stated that a Councilor in the LGA who was transacting business in one of the affected banks may have also been killed.
The Commissioner who had stepped out of a security meeting that lasted for several hours with Governor Hyacinth Alia, rebuked journalists for putting the question through to him.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Benue State command, SP Sewuese Anene pleaded to be given more time to get back to us with more details.
Meanwhile, we gathered that some persons that sustained injuries in the wake of the incident have been taken to the hospital for treatment.
Journalists who were at Government House, Makurdi and expected to be briefed at the end of the security meeting were disappointed as they left without being briefed on what transpired during the meeting.
