Reps to investigate Otukpo robbery

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the recent armed robbery in Otukpo in Benue, which led to the death of some policemen.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Blessing Onuh (PDP-Benye) at the plenary on Tuesday.

Presenting the motion, Onuh said that the primary purpose of government was the security and welfare of the citizens.

She said that on Oct. 20. Otukpo, a relatively peaceful town in Benue, was invaded by a suspected armed gang numbering over 20.

She said the gang held the community under siege for over two hours, wrecking havoc on the community, using rocket launchers, dynamites, AK47 rifles, and other sophisticated weapons.

She said that the invaders started by attacking the vigilance group, the first line in homeland security.

She said they 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 sum of money.

“The banks attacked to include: IBTC, Zenith, UBA, and First Bank. Several persons were killed in the bank premises, and many others sustained gunshot injuries.

She said the residents were traumatised by the attack as they felt unsafe even after the attack.

The House unanimously condemned the robbery and the killing that took place during the incident and urged the police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to make effort to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the robbery.

The House also urged the government to as a matter of urgency deploy additional security agents to secure the town, and its environs to prevent the recurrence.

The House also agreed to set up a committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the robbery.