Offa Attacks: Fayose Insists On Self Defence

Following the armed robbery attacks on five banks in Offa town of Kwara State, last Thursday, and the killing of more than 30 people, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has called for self defence to enable Nigerians protect themselves from armed attackers.
While sympathising with Offa residents over the dastardly attacks, Fayose said the call for self defence by some Nigerians was not misplaced after all, considering the fact that the hoodlums spent over one hour attacking the people and later escaped without any response from the security agencies.
Fayose’s tweet on the Offa robbery attacks, last Saturday, reads: “I sympathize with victims of the Offa, Kwara State robbery that led to the death of over 30 people.
“It is sad that such a terror attack could go on for more than one hour and the robbers were able to escape. It is another clear vindication of the call for self defense.”
It would be recalled that, at least, four police officers were reportedly gunned down during a robbery operation in Offa, Kwara State, last Thursday.
It was gathered that about six other residents and bank customers in the town were also killed in the operation which lasted for more than an hour.
Sources in the town said the robbers blew up entrances into the banks with dynamite, before carting away money from about five banks.
A source said that the robbers invaded the town a few minutes past 4 p.m. and shot into the air sporadically to scare away residents and passersby before the operation began.
The robbers then invaded the Owode Police Station in the community where some police officers and a few civilians were shot dead.
Sources said the robbers made away with huge cash after the operation.
On Thursday evening, graphic pictures of slain police officers and blood-stained residents flooded the internet.
It was learnt that the banks robbed include branches of Guarantee Trust Bank, EcoBank, First Bank, Union Bank and Zenith Bank in the town.
According to an eyewitness, who identified herself as Mrs. Tijani, the thieves came in large numbers, and split themselves into teams to carry out the operations in different banks.
She added that the bandits broke into the banks by detonating dynamites.
“They used something like bomb to break into Union Bank,” she said.
Also, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dennis Ifeoluwa, explained that gunshots and heavy sounds filled the air.
Business activities and vehicular movement ceased during the operation.
“I was coming from where I’m undergoing my Industrial Training when these sounds started. I had to hide myself somewhere.”
“After a while they left only to discover dead bodies outside. I saw someone’s intestines outside today,” he narrated.
In his reaction, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, told newsmen that the command could not immediately confirm casualty figure.
He also hinted that the amount stolen by the robbers was still unknown.
Residents and banks in Offa and another nearby community, Omu-Aran, have been victims of robbery attacks, especially during Yuletide periods.
The rampant cases of robbery in the communities once forced banks to shut operations for a relatively long period.