Fresh details have emerged regarding the recent robbery attack on two banks in Kogi State, revealing the tragic loss of one police officer and one security guard during a shootout with armed robbers.
The state Commissioner of Police, Bernard Onuoha, confirmed this development during his visit to the scene of the crime in Ayingba on Friday.
According to reports from PUNCH online, the attack occurred around 5 pm last Thursday, with witnesses describing a chaotic scene marked by sporadic gunfire.
Eyewitnesses stated that a group of armed robbers, numbering over a dozen, descended on the town with the intent to carry out a large-scale robbery targeting banks in the area.
In a statement issued late Friday by the state police command, the police commissioner’s visit was confirmed, during which he condemned the attack and deployed tactical teams to restore order.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, revealed that the Deputy Commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Department had been instructed to launch an investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
The statement read, “Following the Ayingba bank robbery and attacks on police stations on Thursday, March 7, 2024, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, visited the scenes for an on-the-spot assessment. He vowed that the hoodlums will be apprehended.
“He equally ordered the deployment of tactical teams comprising PMF Personnel, Counter-Terrorism, Quick Response, and Intelligence Units in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.
“Meanwhile, one police constable paid the supreme price during the exchange of fire with the hoodlums before the arrival of the reinforced team to the scenes, and the attackers fled.”
The Commissioner of Police assured the public of the command’s commitment to working with other security agencies and stakeholders to ensure the safety and security of Kogi State residents.
He further urged the people of the state to continue collaborating with security agencies by providing credible information on any suspicious activities within their neighborhoods.