The Police Command in Benue has confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Otukpo, Chief Superintendent, CSP, John Adikwu and three other police officers lost their lives in bloody Friday afternoon bank robbery in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

SP Sewuese Anene, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, confirmed the development to PM News on Saturday.

A gang of armed robbers in a coordinated operation on Friday attacked branches of five different banks in Otukpo town.

The affected banks are: Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Men of the Benue command engaged the suspects in a gun battle along Otukpo-Taraku road and neutralized two of the criminals in the process.

Giving update on the attack, Anene confirmed that other members of the criminal gang abandoned their vehicles and ran into the bush.

The PPRO said: “The Otukpo Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Adikwu and his team in the area engaged the suspected robbers in a gun duel but were unable to prevent them from attacking the banks.

“More police teams in collaboration with other security agents were later deployed to Otukpo to assist in stabilising the area and prevent these robbers from escaping.

“The robbers were later intercepted along Otukpo-Taraku road by our men and engaged them in a gun duel.

”Two of the robbers died in the process, but other members of the gang abandoned their vehicles and escaped into the forest.

”We are still going after them.

“Our DPO in Otukpo who sustained a gunshot injury on his stomach and three other police officers have been confirmed dead at the hospital.

“Other persons who sustained injuries during the operation are currently receiving treatment at the hospital. Investigation is still ongoing to unravel all those involved in the criminal act.”