The House of Representatives, has condemned in strong terms the gruesome and brutal killing of security personnel, bank officials and other citizens during a robbery attack on banks in Otukpo, Benue state last week.
While urging the Nigerian police, Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to as a matter of urgency, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the heinous crime, the House resolved to set up a committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
The House also in a resolution on the matter Tuesday urged the government to as a matter of urgency increase the security architecture within the town and its environs to prevent recurrence.
A minute silence was observed in honour of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and other security personnel and members of the community who lost their lives during the attack.
The resolution was the fallout of a motion sponsored under matters of urgent public importance by Hon. Blessing Onuh, recalling that that on Friday the 20th October, 2023 at about 3pm, Otukpo, a relatively peaceful town in Benue state was invaded by heavily armed gunmen numbering over ten and held the community under siege for over two hours.
“They wrecked havoc using rocket launcher, dynamites, AK47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons.
“These yet to be identified gunmen started their killing spree by attacking the vigilante group which is the first line in the homeland security. They thereafter proceeded to the Otukpo Police Station, killing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and three other female police officers. While the attack on the police station was ongoing, other members of the gang were busy attacking four commercial banks simultaneously, killing and carting away huge sums of money,” she said.
The banks attacked include Stanbic IBTC, Zenith, UBA and First Bank.
