Two armed robbers who stormed a police station and killed officers in Otukpo, Benue State on Friday were apprehended and killed by the police in Benue State.
Prior to targeting the police station, the thieves had broken into several banks, including First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, Access, and Stanbic Bank, taking unspecified sums of cash.
The spokesman for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, stated in a statement on Saturday that two of the robbers were slain when security personnel stopped them along the Otukpo-Taraku route.
The statement read in part, “On 20/10/2023 at about 1615hrs, armed robbers invaded Access, First, Zenith, UBA and Stanbic bank Otukpo simultaneously.
“The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP. John Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engage them in a gun dwell but were unable to prevent their attack on the banks.
“More police teams in collaboration with other security agents were deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilizing the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.
“The robbers who were intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road engaged officers in a gun duel and two of the robbers died in the process.
“Other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area and are been chased by the police
“The DPO who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital.
“Other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment. Investigation is ongoing at the moment”
