By Adewole Kehinde
“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there,” – Zig Ziglar
Daredevil armed robbers on Friday afternoon, 20th October 2023 killed several people at Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The robbers stormed four commercial banks – First Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Plc.
The hooded criminals drove into Otukpo town in Toyota Hilux vehicles and cars from the Otukpa axis of the Otukpo-Enugu highway.
An eyewitness said “They first stormed Zenith Bank and then quickly spread out to the three other banks where they robbed simultaneously.
“The robbers rained bullets from all directions which hit passers-by and bank customers,” a resident in Otukpo metropolis narrated.
The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer (DPO), John Adikwu and three other policemen lost their lives in the incidents.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, immediately ordered the Benue State Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those involved in the bank robbery at Otukpo are brought to book.
During his last press briefing for the year 2023 and meeting with senior field commanders at the police headquarters in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, said, “The unrelenting efforts of our men working with technically generated intelligence paid off as during an encounter with the daredevil robbers, five of them were neutralized while four were arrested and are currently in custody assisting police investigators.
“A total of nine AK47 rifles and five thousand and thirteen (5,013) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered from them.”
The suspects were paraded on Tuesday, 9th January 2024 in Abuja, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
He said that nine AK-47 rifles were recovered from the suspects while five suspects fell to the superior firepower of Police operatives during a fierce gun duel at their hideout in Taraku village, Buruku LGA of Benue State.
I must commend the IGP for matching actions with his words as other 63 suspects were paraded for various crimes ranging from kidnapping, gunrunning, one-chance, armed robbery, and banditry.
Since he assumed office, the NPF has seen a new policing vision within six months of the IGP Egbetokun. This vision is based on professional competence and discipline, is guided by the rule of law, and is motivated by service and a passion for excellence. Nigerian citizens have come to admire this vision, which is in support of the socio-political and economic development of our beloved nation.
Recall that in 2022, 3,094 suspects were taken into custody on suspicion of kidnapping, murder, robbery, terror banditry, pipeline vandalism, and cultism. In 2023, on the other hand, police officers arrested 431 suspects for rape and other sexual offences, 724 suspects for murder/homicide cases, and 2,343 suspects for other offences, of which 433 were suspected cultists.
In addition, throughout various operations conducted across the nation, they apprehended 375 suspected kidnappers, and 577 suspected armed robbers, and rescued a total of 134 abduction victims. Together with four hundred and nineteen different types of weaponry, the Force also retrieved four thousand, two hundred and thirty-five different calibres of ammunition.
Indeed, IGP Egbetokun is keeping to his words of ensuring the safety and security of citizens by relentlessly cracking down on criminals and criminally related activities aimed at ensuring that Nigeria is a safe space for everyone.
Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846. E-mail: kennyadewole@gmail.com
