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Tag: Offa robbery

  • Offa robbery: Kwarans in heated debate over Saraki-police rift

    Prominentb Kwarans and residents were yesterday in heated debate over  the probe of the allegations made against Senate President Bukola Saraki by suspects robbery suspects in the April 5 Offa bank robbery.

    Thirty three persons including nine policemen were killed. Millions of naira was stolen by the gang. 22 people are in the police net over the bloody robbery.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the police had initially invited Saraki for interrogation before soft pedalling to request for only a written explanation within 48 hours.

    Also linked to the suspects is Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed following alleged claims by the suspects that they were political thugs working for the duo.

    Both the senate president and the governor dismissed the allegations as an attempt to frame them.

    Many Kwarans expressed support for the police in the ongoing investigation and have called on Saraki to respond to the allegations made against him in order to clear his name.

    Others dismissed the allegations, saying they were aimed at tarnishing the image of the senate president and the governor of his home state.

    The respondents  spoke to NAN in separate interviews in Ilorin.

    Dr Amuda Aluko, an elder statesman,  said it would  be better for the senate president to respond to the police request in order to clear his name.

    Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin, who  was of the view that Saraki could  never be involved in robbery, however, said it had become expedient  for him  to clear his name since he was allegedly mentioned by the suspects.

    He said his Kwara Liberation Group had spoken out about a week ago urging Nigerians to  allow the police carry out their  duty on the case of  cultists transferred to Abuja from the state.

    Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, a former Minister of National Planning, was of the view that “ if the senate president has  no skeleton in his cupboard, he should honour police invitation to clear his name.’’

    According to him, the claim by the  suspects that they have links with the senate president makes it imperative that Saraki avails  himself of the opportunity offered by the police  to clear his name.

    Prof . Abdulwahab Egbewole of the Department of Law, University of Ilorin,  on his part,  warned  against “ the politicisation of   the lives of Nigerians.’’

    According to him, the  police have  the right  by law to investigate everybody.

    “From the trajectory of the matter, it is not regarded as purely a legal issue. It has some fundamental political undertones, ” he said.

    The don  said that from the alleged confession of the  Offa robbery suspects, it was revealed that Saraki gave a vehicle to a suspect.

    “They also alleged that he gave them guns;  they, however,  stated that he did not tell them to rob,’’ he said.

    He also argued that this may be seen as being an accessory to a particular crime in law.

    Egebwole, however,  pointed out that the anti-cultism law in Kwara  put in place by the Saraki administration  was the most stringent in the country.

    He wondered how “ a person who puts  in place such a law will now  go against it,’’  adding that  ” Saraki after all had  said he is ready to comply with the directives of the police during the course of investigation.’’

    Mr Iyiola Oyedepo, the PDP Chairman in Kwara, urged  the police to carry out  a thorough investigation into the Offa robbery incident.

    He also expressed doubt that the senate president  would  support  the suspects to engage in robbery.

    Oyedepo, however, said  Saraki has a  moral duty to clear his name.

    He advised the senate president to honour the police request  by  sending  his statement  so as to clear his name.

    “Did Saraki give them vehicle? Did Saraki provide them guns, are they his political thugs?

    “All these questions should be answered by Sen.  Bukola Saraki to clear his name,” Oyedepo said.

    The chairman  called on the people of the state to rise up and demand justice so that the case would not be compromised.

    In his reaction, Rafiu Hotonu, the State Secretary of the National Union of Local Government Employers (NULGE), said there was nothing wrong with the police request asking Saraki to respond to  allegations.

    “He should honour the request  to clear his name. NULGE wholeheartedly supports  the police because the suspects  confessed that they work for the senate president, so he needs  to clear his name.

    “No matter how highly placed you are in the society, once the police invite you, you are bound to honour the invitation,” Hotonu said.

    An Ilorin based legal practitioner, Mr Isaac Oladele,  said there was no crime in a police invitation, urging Saraki to use  the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

    Oladele, who  noted that the police had  even said the senate president need not appear in person,  also adds:  “ This is an opportunity for Saraki to clear his name of all the allegations of sponsoring cultists as thugs and having a link to the  Offa robbery.

    ” Nobody is above the law, whether  you  are  rich or poor. The law is no respecter of anybody. I will advise the senate president to honour the invitation and clear the mess on time.’’

    But another  lawyer, Mr Tunde Jimoh,  appealed the public to stop politicising the matter and allow the police to conduct  their investigation.

    ” Nigerians must allow the  police to do a thorough finding. They must stop the different protests and distractions on social media.

    “Enough of  interference from the external forces; there is no need to mount  pressure on the senate president and the  Nigeria Police in order not to complicate the matter.

    “The fact that the suspected robbers mentioned Saraki’s name in their confessional statements  doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusions.

    “Nigerians must be patient and give room for thorough investigation and fair hearing from both parties rather than drawing  conclusions, ” he said.

    For Funsho Aina, another legal practitioner, the senate president must respond promptly to the matter “ because of the sensitive position he is holding. ‘’

    ” It is still an allegation for now and he is not yet found guilty. The best for him (Saraki) is to honourably make his statement on the matter available before it turns to another thing.

    “If there is the need for him to step down from his post as senate president to clear his name, he can do so for the sake of his  integrity and that of the National Assembly, ” Aina  said.

    Mr Bayo Adeyipo, a resident,  said there was need for the ruling party to close ranks and imbibe unity  while  shunning  acts capable of derailing its  future plans.

    Adeyipo  stated that the  initial invitation extended to the senate president  bordered on a  criminal act and  should not be subjected to political debate.

    “If anybody in power is found wanting, he  should be ready to give necessary explanation by way of clearing his or her name of any wrong doing.

    “The police have laid out their facts, the onus is now on the person so accused to explore all avenues to clear his name of criminal allegations and maintain his or her integrity,” he said.

    The Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (lEDPU), a soicio-cultural organisation, however,  described the police action  as “ a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the senate president.’’

    Amb.  Usman AbdulAzeez, the National President of the union, said the invitation of Saraki in connection with the robbery incident   was a ploy to discredit  him.

    “The lEDPU,  which is non-political,  strongly condemns  the invitation of our illustrious son who is the number three citizen of the country in connection with the robbery case,’’  he said.

    He described the initial invitation as an attempt to drag the name of the ancient  town of Ilorin in the  mud, stating that the senate president could not be involved in robbery.

    Alhaji Busari Adebayo, a community leader in Ipetu,  also  described the development as “political witch hunt ‘’   which could heat up the polity.

    “As the 2019 general elections draw  nearer, the political class should imbibe tolerance and close ranks in the interest of moving the country forward.

    “The invitation to Saraki over Offa Robbery is a direct fall-out of  the power play as the processes toward the 2019 general elections gathers momentum.

    “What the country needs  most is absolute peace and unity to achieve the sustenance of our democratic system,”  he said.

    Mrs Motunrayo Aboyade, a civil servant, believes the current travails of Saraki is  part of the on-going superiority tussle among APC  leaders ahead of   the 2019 general elections.

    “The case of armed robbery levelled against Saraki will not  hold water;  it is  a result of the powerful tussle at the top.

    “You can see that the invitation has now been replaced with a written explanation, that is to tell you that the whole thing is just a power game and the drama will continue to unfold with time,” Aboyade said.

    A lawmaker in  the Kwara House of Assembly, Hon.  AbdulRafiu  AbdukRahnan  condemned the police over the initial invitation to Saraki, saying it has negative political implications.

    Bisi Owolabi, the APC Chairman in Irepodun Local Government Area, on his part, sees the development  as “  continuation of the persecution of Saraki since the  inception of the present administration.’’

    He maintained that the persecution, if continued unchecked, was capable affecting the fortunes  of the party in future elections.

    “Saraki worked for the success of the party by winning all available position in the state and he is still very much committed to the party’s  principles and ideas,’’ he said.

    Another resident, Victor Peter,  urged public  institutions to “ refrain from playing  to the gallery because of politics.’’

    “The police cannot continue like this;  convicting people in the court of public opinion has never worked. They should do better; Nigerians deserve that.

    “Now that they have made a U-turn about their initial planned invitation to Dr Saraki, let’s see how it all plays out, but as usual, I  am confident that this case is dead on arrival,’’  Peter said.

  • Offa robbery: Police make U-turn on Saraki’s invitation

    … Order Senate president to send written response within 48 hours

    The Police on Monday soft-pedaled on its invitation to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over his alleged link with the bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    Saraki said on his Twitter handle – @bukolasaraki.9m – the police had asked him to send a written response on the matter within 48 hours.

    At least 33 people were killed in the robbery attack.

    The police had on Sunday directed the Senate president to report at the office of the Force Intelligence Response Team in Guzape, Abuja, to clear his name on the alleged complicity in the robbery incident.

    Saraki tweeted: “Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG.

    “They are no longer asking me to appear at the station, but to respond in writing to the allegation within 48 hours which I plan to do.”

     

  • Police: Saraki, Ahmed indicted for Offa robbery

    Senate President: it’s plot to embarrass me

    I’ve no link with suspects, says governor

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki is to be questioned by the police for alleged criminal indictment by five suspected gangsters involved in the April 5 bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    He has been told to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, to clear the air on the allegations against him.

    “Senate President Bukola Saraki is being invited to report to the Police to answer allegations indicting him from confessions of five gang leaders arrested for active participation in the Offa bank robbery and the killing of 33 innocent persons,” Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, an assistant commissioner, said yesterday.

    Giving an update on the investigation yesterday, Moshood said five of the suspects confessed  that they were political thugs used by the senate president and Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    The governor has denied any involvement as alleged.

    The five suspects Are: Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibukunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran.

    “Ogunleye confessed to killing two persons, Abraham killed five persons, Azeez and Ogundiran killed two persons each during the robbery”, the police said.

    The robbers attacked five commercial banks, one microfinance bank and a police station. They killed 33 persons, including nine policemen and an expectant woman during the robbery.

    Twenty two suspects are in the police net.

    Among those being questioned, according to Moshood, are: Michael Adikwu, who the police described as a sectional gang leader, who killed 22 persons, mostly at the police station,   Kabiru Afolabi,    Omoseni Kassim, Kayode Opadokun, Kazeem Abdulrasheed, Azeez Abdullahi,   Adewale Popoola,  Adetoyese Muftau, Alexander Reuben,  Richard Buba Terry,   Peter Jasper Kuunfa,   Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji, Moses Godwin,    Adeola Omiyale and  Femi Idowu.

    “The five gang leaders further confessed during investigation that they are political thugs under the name ‘Youth Liberation Movement, a.k.a Good Boys’,” Moshood said, adding that the boys admitted to have been sponsored with firearms, money and operational vehicles by Saraki and Ahmed.”

    Moshood said the suspects were grabbed following the arrest of two principal suspects, Kunle Ogunleye, known as “Arrow” and Michael Adikwu, an ex-convict.

    “The two principal suspects confessed to be among the suspects led by the five gang leaders to carry out the Offa bank robbery,” he said.

    He alleged that in the course of investigation, a Lexus GX-300 with a sticker number plate with the inscription “SARAKI” used by the gang leader, Ayoade Akinnibosun, was recovered.

    He said the vehicle was taken to the Government House, Ilorin on May 16 where the number plate was removed and replaced with another, Kwara, KMA 143 RM.

    “The exhibit vehicle was subsequently recovered from the premises of Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Ilorin, Kwara,” he added.

    Moshood said the sticker number plate removed from the vehicle was recovered from Adeola Omiyale who drove the vehicle to the Government House in Ilorin immediately after the bank robbery.

    He said millions of naira and 21 AK47 rifles belonging to the police in Offa were admitted to have been carted away during the bank robbery.

    Moshood listed items recovered from the suspects as including: “Two AK47 Rifles, Two Barrette Pistols, One Pump Action Rifle,   One Revolver Pistol – In Police Custody in Ilorin, Lexus RX300 Jeep with Reg. No. Kwara, KMA 143 RM belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader) – used for the bank robbery, Mercedes Benz – Compressor with Reg. No. Lagos LT496 KJA belonging to Ayoade Akinnibosun (gang leader) – used for the bank robbery and one Toyota Prado Jeep with Reg. No. 19KWGH belonging to the PA Political to the Executive Governor, Kwara State – in police custody in Ilorin.

    Other items are: “One Toyota Camry Saloon Car with Reg. No. LRN 481 FE – in police custody in Ilorin, N600,000.00 – in police custody in Ilorin, four phones of victims recovered, one sticker plate number with inscription “SARAKI” “Kwara, State of Harmony”

    Moshood alleged that the Personal Assistant (Political) to the Kwara Governor, Mr. Alabi Olalekan, had also been arrested for concealing information from the police.

    Also arrested is the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab.

    According to him, Olalekan who was privy to information that the police were looking for the vehicle, directed Adeola Omiyale to relocate it to the Government House.

    “The PA is currently in police custody and has made useful statements assisting the police in further investigation into the case,” he said.

    He said that a revolver pistol and a pump action gun were recovered by the police investigation team from Olalekan’s farm where he directed his brother to hide them.

    The spokesman said 22 suspects involved in the bank robbery were in police custody.

    He said efforts were being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large and all suspects involved would be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.

    He said that the police would continue to ensure that the rule of law prevailed in every case under police investigation and offenders were brought to justice.

     

    I have no link with criminals, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday denied any links with the criminal elements, who robbed banks in Offa and killed 33 people.

    He however said he would visit the police after receiving a formal invitation.

    Saraki’s position is contained in a statement last night by his spokesman Yusuph Olaniyonu, who described his invitation as “part of the plan to abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work”.

    The statement said: “Dr. Saraki will want the entire public to disregard this claim as a baseless allegation and another ploy by the Police to implicate him by all means.

    “Let it be known that there is no way I could have been associated with armed robbery against my people. When the Offa robbery incident happened, I was the first top public official to pay a visit to the place and right there in the palace of the traditional ruler, I put a call through to this same Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the IGP, requesting him to make certain specific security arrangements as demanded by the people.

    “Members of the public will remember that on May 16, 2018, I alerted the Senate about the information passed on to me by my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed, over a plot by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to frame me up by getting some suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin to implicate me. It is believed that the timely leakage of the plot in that case aborted the use of the suspected cultists to implicate me. Now, it is the Offa bank robbery suspects that are about to be used.

    “This plot is concocted to embarrass me and, in the mind of the IGP, it is his own response after his refusal to honour the invitation by the National Assembly, headed by me, for him to come and offer explanations on the rampant killings and violence across the country.

    “Like the earlier one, this frame-up will also fail as I hereby state categorically that I have no link with any band of criminals.

    “As a person who has utmost respect for the rule of law and all constitutional institutions, when the invitation from the Police is formally extended to me, I will be ready to honour it without any delay.

    “It is however sad that this abuse of the criminal investigation process aimed at intimidating and over-overawing the legislature, thereby obstructing it from doing its work, is a big threat to our democracy “.

  • Offa robbery suspects’ confession

    SUSPECTS ALL

    • Ayoade Akinnibosun
    • Ibikunle Ogunleye
    • Adeola Abraham
    • Salawudeen Azeez
    • Niyi Ogundiran
    • Michael Adikwu
    • Kabiru Afolabi
    • Omoseni Kassim
    • Kayode Opadokun •Kazeem Abdulrasheed
    • Azeez Abdullahi
    • Adewale Popoola •Adetoyese Muftau
    • Alexander Reuben
    • Richard Buba Terry
    • Peter Jasper Kuunfa
    • Ikechukwu Ebuka Nnaji
    • Moses Godwin
    • Adeola Omiyale
    • Femi Idowu

     

    Some of the Offa robbery suspects yesterday narrated the roles they played during the attack.

    Some spoke about how they were taught to use guns before they went for the deadly operation.

    Ayoade Akinnibosun

    Akinnibosun, who holds a B.Ed. in Guidance and Counselling from Ekiti State University said: “I’m  the Chairman of Liberation Youth Movement (Kwara South). We are the Senate President’s boys. We work for him at Kwara South.  We are the ones that hold Kwara South for him. We have three senatorial districts in Kwara State; there are some people in Kwara North and Central but we control the South.

    “We have been working for him since when he was the governor of Kwara State. When he was in PDP.

    “We mobilise for him and we are the ones that do political arrangements for him. For example, where we cannot win, we mobilize people and make ‘dabaru’ arrangement there. We scatter elections if we don’t win.”

    On the connection of Saraki with the bank robbery, He said: “He is the one that arranges everything for us. For example, this car  (Lexus SUV) was given to me by His Excellency Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed  through the Chief of Staff of Kwara State as a gift from the leader Senator Bukola Saraki. I participated in Offa robbery and I took the Lexus Jeep to Offa.

    On whether the Senate President and the Governor encouraged them to rob and kill people, Akinnibosun said: “The Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State – we have been  their political thugs. So, that was what encouraged us to do what we did.”

    On how they got the weapons: “It was through one dismissed Police officer Michael Adikwu.  He came with ammunition. That fateful day, it was, Arrow, Alex, Stand Well Well and Niyi. It was five of us that went. We took off  from Ajase Ipo with another Mercedes Benz  to Offa. When we got to Offa, I positioned everybody but I stood at Total filling station. When we got there, we met Michael Adikwu who came in one Audi car.  He brought  out five AK47 from a Nissan vehicle.”

    On whether Saraki was aware of the robbery before they embarked on it, he said: “They did not send us for the robbery but because we are their political thugs, that was why we did what we did.”

    On why he decided to rob considering that he could easily access the Senate President and the governor and ask for anything, Akinnibosun said: “It is the work of the devil.

    On who gave him guns for political thuggery, he said: “It is the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor but he was not aware we were going to robb with them.

    “We the youths of Nigeria should not allow ourselves to be used. We should not allow anybody to deceive us with anything. There is nothing out there. They are only deceiving us with stipends. My fellow youths, I am begging you in the name of God.

    He denied being on the payroll of the senate president but collects money from him. “We don’t get paid in salary form. They give us money whenever the Senate President is around. We get N200,000, sometimes N300,000.”

    On the Offa robbery booty , he said: “I cannot say because all we got was kept with Michael Adikwu. We did not share it immediately because he said if we did, we would be caught by the Police.”

    Ibukunle Ogunleye

    Ogunleye, who claimed be a wood seller and also into Politics said the Offa robbery was the first operation he ever went for.

    He said: “I went to the same school with Akinnibosun.  My involvement in Offa robbery was that our leader, Ayoade introduced the robbery to me and I later spread it to my two mechanics; Stand Well Well and Niyi.

    On why he killed people on that day: “I killed the two people out of fear because I was being disturbed when the whole thing (robbery) was going on.

    “I was disturbed by Michael Adikwu because he was shouting that the Nigeria Police dismissed him, took his job from him and that we will do them ‘Shege’. That was the word he used.”

    On how he learnt how to use gun, he said: “It was Michael that thought us how to use guns. A day to the robbery, he was teaching us in a bush at a Ajase Ipo.

    “I don’t know how long it took Michael but it was three days to the robbery that I got to know about it through Akinnibosun. “

    Adeola Abraham

    Abraham, who is a mechanic and who killed five people during the robbery said he hails from Oro, Irepodun Local government area of the state.

    On his involvement in the robbery, he said: “I killed five people.

    “While we were on operation. We were outside the bank and as the operation was ongoing, the people were stoning us. They were shouting thief thief and kept on stoning. One of the stones hit me and so I got angry and decided to shoot them.”

    Azeez

    Another suspect who is also a mechanic, Salawudeen Azeez, said it was Michael who gave him a gun.

    He said: “I am a mechanic who specialises in Japanese motors. They told me that they wanted to explain something to me and when I met them, they told me that we were going to rob.

    “Niyi Ogundiran told me to stand in front of a bank. They gave me a gun to hold in case things went wrong and when things went wrong,  I killed two people.”

    Ogundiran

    Ogundiran who hails from Oro said he was also a mechanic who repairs Mrcedes Benz adding that Ogunleye was his customer.

    “They brought a car to me to repair, it was while I was repairing it that they briefed me on what they wanted to do and I decided to follow them. I was told we were going to share whatever we make from the operation but we ended up with nothing. I only killed two people.”

  • Offa Robbery: Police arrest two wanted suspects

    Two of the gang leaders and principal suspects of the gang that attack commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, have been arrested, the police said yesterday.

    Kunle Ogunleye, 35, aka arrow, a native of Kwara, and Michael Adikwu, from Apa Local Government Area of Benue State, were arrested by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Kwara two weeks ago.

    The robbers attacked five commercial banks in Offa on April 5, during which 17 persons, including policemen and a pregnant woman were killed.

    The force spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, an Assistant Commissioner (ACP) in a statement in Abuja yesterday, said the suspects have confessed to be the gang-leaders of their groups.

    “The two suspects have confessed to the crime and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the robbery. They will be charged to court on completion of investigation,” he said.

    He said Adikwu, who was a police corporal, was dismissed for criminal conspiracy and aiding the escape from custody of armed robbery suspects.

    “He served three years in Prison and subsequently found his way out in 2015,”he said.

    The spokesman said that the arrest of the two gang leaders had brought the number of suspects arrested so far in connection with the Offa banks robbery to 22.

    He commended members of the public and other patriotic Nigerians for the timely information leading to the arrest of the 22 who are currently in police custody.

    Moshood enjoined members of the public with any information about other suspects still at large should feel free to contact the police through the following Phone numbers 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, 08088450152.

    “Protection of the informant will be guaranteed by the police and handsome rewards in addition to the pledge of N5 million by the Kwara Government await anyone whose information leads to the arrest of these wanted suspects,” he said.

    The police spokesman said the force would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the perpetrators of the robbery were rounded up and prosecuted.

  • Police arrest another Offa bank robbery suspect

    Police said on Monday that another suspected member of the armed robbery gang that attacked commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, last month, has been arrested.

    Kunle Ogunleye, 35, alias Arrow, was arrested on Monday at Oro Town in Kwara State by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Ogunleye’s arrest followed the apprehension of a dismissed police Corporal, Michael Adikwu, two weeks ago.

    Adikwu’s Close Circuit Television (CCTV) captured image was circulated on social media after the robbery.

    Police said investigation into the robbery was extended to Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti States, adding that credible information from the public led to the suspects’ arrests.

    Adikwu, a native of Apa local government area of Benue State, was dismissed in 2012 for compromise.

    He was said to have released some notorious armed robbers in custody and prosecuted for the offence.

    The police said Adikwu spent three years in prison and was released in 2015.

    “All suspects arrested have confessed to the Offa bank robberies and murders. They are  assisting the IRT teams to arrest more suspects,” police said.

     

  • Offa robbery: Police declare four principal suspects wanted

    The Police have declared four gang leaders and principal suspects allegedly responsible for the bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State wanted.

    No fewer than 17 people including policemen were killed in the bloody attack on five banks on April 5.

    Though the names of the suspects are unknown for now, the police also released the CCTV photographs of the suspects to enable the public assist in identifying them and reporting the suspects’ whereabouts for arrest.

    The police have also promised to reward anyone with useful information, in addition to the N5million bounty promised by the Kwara State government.

    Giving update of investigation conducted so far, the Force Spokesman, Mr Jimoh Moshood in a statement, said: “The Nigeria Police Force is making significant progress in the investigation into the Offa Banks robbery in Kwara state that occurred on 5th April, 2018.

    “So far, more than 20 principal suspects have been arrested and their details were released to the public including the following exhibits that were recovered from them; two Beretta pistols, 20 rounds of live ammunition, four phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack. All the suspects are cooperating with the Police in the investigation into the incident.”

    On the outcome of the recent investigation, Moshood said: “Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation.

    “To this end, the photographs of these wanted suspects are now being released to the public for assistance from public spirited individuals and general public for information to arrest them.

    “They are also being placed on INTERPOL watch list and Red Alert. Other sister security and safety agencies are equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest Police Station or Formation across the country or avail the Police with any information they may have or come across about these suspects.”

    The police urged members of the public with useful information on the suspects to call the following Phone numbers; 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, and 08088450152.

    The police also promised to protect would be informants.

    “Protection of the informant will be guaranteed by the Police and handsome rewards in addition to the pledge of N5million by Kwara State Government await anyone whose information leads to the arrest of these wanted suspects.”

  • Offa Robbery: Police arrest 20 principal suspects

    The Nigeria Police Force said it had so far arrested more than 20 principal suspects in connection with the recent bank robbery in Offa, Kwara.

    Reports have it that armed robbers had attacked five commercial banks in Offa on April 5, during which 17 persons, including policemen and a pregnant woman were killed.

    The Force spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said that details of the suspects were released to the public including the following exhibits that were recovered from them.

    The exhibits are: two Beretta Pistols, 20 Rounds of Live Ammunition, four cell phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack.

    The spokesman said that the suspects were cooperating with the police in the investigation into the incident.

    “Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation,” he said.

    He said that the photographs of the wanted suspects have being released to the public for assistance to arrest them.

    Moshood said that the suspects were also being placed on INTERPOL Watch list and Red.

    Read Also: Offa robbery: Police declare four principal suspects wanted

    He said that other sister security and safety agencies were equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest Police Station or Formations across the country.

    Moshood assured informants whose information would lead to the arrest the suspects of their protection, in addition to the pledge of N5 million by the Kwara State Government.

    He said the Force would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the perpetrators of the Offa Banks Robbery were arrested.

  • Offa robbery: Police declare four principal suspects wanted

    The police on Friday declared wanted four masterminds of last month’s bank robbery in Offa, Kwara State.

    The police also placed them on INTERPOL watch list.

    Though the names of the suspects have not been made public, the police attached their pictures from the robbery scene to a statement issued in Abuja, for ease of identification.

    Several people including policemen were killed in the robbery incident.

    The police also promised to reward anyone with useful information on the suspects with handsome rewards in addition to the N5million promised by the Kwara State government.

    Giving update of investigation conducted so far, the Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said in the statement “The Nigeria Police Force is making significant progress in the investigation into the Offa banks robbery in kwara State that occurred on 5th April, 2018.

    “So far, more than 20 principal suspects have been arrested and their details were released to the public including the following exhibits that were recovered from them – two Beretta Pistols, 20 rounds of live ammunition, four phones and SIM cards belonging to victims, some of whom were killed during the attack

    “All the suspects are cooperating with the police in the investigation into the incident.

    Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation.

    “To this end, the photographs of these wanted suspects are now being released to the public for assistance from public spirited individuals and general public for information to arrest them.

    “They are also being placed on INTERPOL watch list and Red Alert. Other sister security and safety agencies are equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest police station or Formation across the country or avail the police with any information they may have or come across about these suspects.”

     

  • ‘Offa robbery caused by unemployment’

    A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 in Kwara State, Hakeem Lawal, has described the Offa robbery as unwarranted and unfortunate.

    He attributed rising banditry in the country to youth unemployment, saying there was a nexus between banditry and joblessness.

    Lawal spoke when he visited the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mohammed Muftau Gbadamosi, to condole with him over attacks on some banks.

    He identified massive creation of jobs as a panacea to avert such criminality.

    According to him, it behoves the authorities to employ modern strategies to curb crime.

    He urged the people to see the incident as divine, saying they should use it to renew their commitment in strengthening their love.

    High Chief Joseph Bayo Akinola, who spoke for Oba Gbadamosi, hailed Lawal for sharing in their moment of grief.