The Benue State Police Command has confirmed the death of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Otukpo Police Division, CSP John Adikwu, and three other officers.
The four Policemen succumbed to their injuries, which they sustained while confronting a gang of armed robbers during broad daylight simultaneous robbery of five commercial banks in Otukpo local government area of the State on Friday.
This is even as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said she was yet to get an official figure of civilian casualties from the incident but believed it’s about four for now, making total number of dead victims eight.
She disclosed that the armed robbers were later intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku Road after they engaged Police officers in a gun duel and two of the criminals died in the process while other gang members abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest area.
The PPRO, however, said the Police was on the trail of the armed robbers.
She said: “On 20/10/2023 at about 1615hrs, armed robbers invaded Access, First, Zenith, UBA and Stanbic Banks in Otukpo simultaneously.”
According to her, “The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP. Adikwu and other Police teams in the area engaged the robbers in a gun duel but were unable to prevent the attack on the banks.
“The DPO who sustained gunshot injuries on his stomach and three other police officers were confirmed dead at the hospital. while other persons who sustained injuries in the bank have been moved to the hospital for treatment.”
The PPRO informed that more Police teams in collaboration with other security agents, have been deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilising the area and prevent the robbers from escaping, adding that nvestigation was ongoing at the moment to unravel the mystery behind the invasion.
The Benue State Police spokesperson, who described DPO Adikwu as a highly experienced Police officer, said he was recently transferred to Otukpo just few months ago.
