Offa Attack: No stone will be left unturned, says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has described Thursday’s coordinated bank robberies and attack on unsuspecting citizens in Offa, Kwara State, which claimed the lives of six policemen and six civilians, as a despicable act committed by cruel individuals.

In a post on his Facebook page, Saraki stated he and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had spoken earlier on Thursday evening and agreed that no stone would be left unturned until those that carried out the attack and robberies are found and prosecuted swiftly.

A suspected gang of armed robbers on Thursday evening invaded commercial banks in Offa, killing the policemen, complainants, bank customers and market traders.

The robbers reportedly carted away

The gunmen, who operated for about an hour, were said to have entered the town around 4:45pm and operated till about 5:40pm, after blocking the roads from Ilorin and Osogbo ends and escaped through Igosun, an adjoining community with unspecified amount of money in different currencies.

They reportedly first approached the Offa Divisional Police Station on entering the ancient town, killing the policemen on duty, among other people at the station, before raiding the commercial banks and killing people by shooting them on the head.

Among the victims were a man identified as Pelemo, who was expected to retire in few months, and a pregnant policewoman.

It was also gathered that the bandits, about 15 in number, came in different vehicles and stationed themselves at strategic areas of the town and were said to have also snatched commercial motorcycles to operate and escape.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident on Thursday.