Bank Robbery, Killings: Police Deploy Mobile Force Units, Equipment to Kwara, Taraba States

The Nigerian Police on Sunday deployed mobile force unit, investigative team and armoured personnel carrier to Kwara and Taraba States to continue with the investigation of robbery attack in Offa, Kwara State, and recent killings in Taraba State.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood, "The Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim K. Idris, concerned with the banks robbery attack in Offa, Kwara State on April 5, 2018, and the recent killings on April 4 and 7 in Donga and Bali Local Government Areas of Taraba State which resulted in the loss of innocent lives, loss of large sums of money and destruction of property worth millions of naira in the two states, has ordered the deployment of three Mobile Police Force (MPF) units, high powered police investigation team, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with 10 crew members and anti-robbery equipment to Kwara State and three  additional MPF units to Taraba State  to beef up security in these states; prevent further attacks; arrest perpetrators and carryout discreet investigation into the Offa banks robbery in Kwara State and recent killings in Donga and Bali council areas of Taraba State.

"The deployments in the two states will cover Offa and its environ and other vulnerable points in Kwara State, while the deployment of the three MPF in addition to the five MPF units recently deployed in Taraba State will cover Donga, Bali, Lau, Gassol, Karim Lamido council areas and other flash points in the state."

Moshood explained that "the police teams will carry out intelligence gathering, raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, arrest of perpetrators and further investigation into the incidents.

"Furthermore, the immediate intervention and preliminary investigation carried out by the high-powered police investigation team deployed by the IG which is working in synergy with the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department in the two commands resulted in the arrest of eight principal suspects in connection with the Offa bank robbery and 12 suspects directly responsible for the recent killings in Donga and Bali Local Government Areas of Taraba State.”

Also recovered were seven AK47 rifles, four locally made revolver, 30 rounds of AK47 ammunition, seven operational vehicles of the armed robbers and assailants in the two incidents.

According to the police spokesman, “In Donga and Bali council areas attacks eight suspects were arrested for being part of those responsible for the killings of innocent people.

“They have confessed and admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime and will be arraigned on the completion of investigation.

“They are Ali Runo, Hassan Ruwo, Chindo Umoru, Yinusa Usman, Shittu Usman, Tervesee John, Terse Joseph, Victor Madu, Theophilos Ajee, Hasama George, Tervise Boniface and Tijie Evarso.

“In the Offa incident where nine policemen and eight other persons were killed, the names of the seven suspects and the additional one suspect arrested in connection with the incident who have admitted to the various criminal roles they played in the banks robbery attacks and also assisting police investigation into the incident are being withheld but will be disclosed after the arrest of the remaining suspects and completion of investigation into the crime.

"While the Nigeria Police deeply commiserates with the governments and people of Kwara and Taraba States over the recent killings, the Force calls for calm and support for the police personnel deployed to sustain the normalcy that has been restored in the affected states.  The Force implores the people to be vigilant and security conscious.

"They should promptly report suspicious acts or persons to the nearest police detachment or station for prompt action to avert untoward incidents."