The Offa Community in Kwara State has called on the state government to expedite the implementation of a recent court judgment regarding the armed robbers who attacked commercial banks in the town on April 5, 2018. The community is also requesting a more thorough investigation, expressing concerns about the exclusion of certain individuals allegedly involved in the crime.
At a press conference on Thursday, Alhaji Olanrewaju Shittu, Chairman of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), along with other executives, voiced their dissatisfaction with the police investigation. They believe that key figures named by the convicted robbers during the trial, who were allegedly responsible for supplying weapons and logistics, were not sufficiently addressed in the court’s judgment.
Last week, Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court sentenced five men—Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran—to death by hanging for their involvement in the robbery, which resulted in the deaths of 33 individuals, including police officers and pregnant women, and led to the theft of millions of naira.
While the ODU welcomed the death sentences for the culprits, they emphasized that the investigation remains “incomplete” and perceived it as an attempt to cover up and protect individuals identified by the robbers during the investigation. The community has urged the police and state government to resume investigations and ensure all individuals involved, including those who provided vehicles and other logistics, are brought to justice.
In a statement addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the ODU leadership highlighted that Offa would not rest until full justice is served. They demanded a comprehensive investigation, urging the government to consider “all factors, notions, and personalities” involved in the case to eliminate any impression of an inadequate investigation.
The community reiterated their commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring accountability for all individuals involved in the tragic incident, stating, “This is Offa Community’s Unnegotiable Demand and Prayer.”