Several people were feared killed when heavily armed men invaded banks in Otukpo, Benue State yesterday.
Our correspondent gathered that the robbers whose faces were covered moved from one bank to the other.
An eyewitness said as the robbers stormed the banks with sophisticated weapons, security personnel pulled off their uniforms and ran away.
“We were seeing what was happening from hiding places and saw security personnel pulling off their uniforms and hiding their rifles because of the sophisticated weapon they saw with the robbers,” he said.
Witnesses said those killed included police officers and a councillor. This was, however, not independently verified before press time.
But Benue State police command spokesperson, SP Catherine Anene Sewuese, told newsmen; “There was such incident in Otukpo today. I will get back to you.”
Customers transacting business in one of the affected banks were also believed to have been killed.
The robbers first attacked a police office and disarmed policemen on duty before carrying out the operation.
United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank , Stanbic Banks and First Bank Plc were said to have been attacked.
Meanwhile, the police in Benue State have intercepted and killed two of the armed robbers that attacked a police station and killed officers in Otukpo, Benue State on Friday.
The robbers before attacking the police station, had raided some banks including First Bank, United Bank for Africa, Zenith Bank, Access and Stanbic Bank and carted away unverified amount of money.
In a statement on Saturday by the Benue State Police Command spokesman, Catherine Anene, she explained that security operatives intercepted the robbers along Otukpo-Taraku road and killed two of them.
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”
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