Operatives of the Benue State Police Command have intercepted and killed two of the armed robbers who attacked a police station and killed officers in Otukpo, Benue State, on Friday.
Before storming the police station, the thieves robbed several banks, including First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, Access, and Stanbic Bank, and stole an undisclosed sum of money.
According to Catherine Anene, spokesman for the Benue State Police Command, security personnel encountered the robbers near the Otukpo-Taraku route and murdered two of them.
The statement read in part, “On October 20, 2023, at about 1615 hrs, 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 engaged them in a gunfight 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 stabilising 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, escaped into the forest area, and have been chased by the police.
“The DPO, who sustained a gunshot injury to his stomach, and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital.
“Other people who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment. The investigation is ongoing at the moment.”
