Armed men, using explosives and sophisticated weapons, stormed selected commercial banks in Otukpo on Friday afternoon in a one-hour operation. The violent incident claimed eight lives, including police officers, vigilantes, and a sitting Councillor who was at one of the affected banks.
Witnesses described chaos in the town, reporting that the armed men first attacked the local police station, disarming the officers, before targeting the main banks. The assailants detonated explosives in Zenith Bank, leading to widespread damage to cars and nearby shops.
The robbers successfully looted Zenith Bank, UBA, and First Bank, making off with bags of money. They fired shots into the air to intimidate bystanders and fled towards Makurdi via the Makurdi-Otukpo Road, continuing to fire as they passed through Otuklo streets.
The traditional ruler of Otukpo confirmed the incident and assured that security forces were in pursuit. The Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the incident and stated that details would be provided once available from the officers on the ground in Otukpo.
