Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, of Benue State has condemned the armed robbery attack on four commercial banks in Otukpo, describing it as an ‘unfortunate development‘.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Alia, Tersoo Kulo, on Friday, October 20.
The Governor said the robbery incident is 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.
He said, “It is an unfortunate development that people who were on duty, especially police officers, were shot and killed in cold blood by those mindless robbers.
“But they cannot get away with this. Already, security agencies are on their trail and must apprehend and bring them to justice”.
He called on the people of the state to be vigilant and always endeavour to report suspicious movements around them all the time.
According to report, the robbery claimed ten lives including that of a young man, Emmanuel Uche, who reportedly just finished NYSC early this year and got a job in UBA.
The dare-devil robbers operated for two hours without being challenged by security operatives.
Sources in Otukpo, stated that the robbers came in numbers and attacked UBA, Zennith Bank, Stanbic IBTC, and First Bank, which are located opposite the Divisional Police Headquarters.