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The Senate has urged security agencies to immediately probe the coordinated bank robberies which led to the loss of several lives in Otukpo, Benue State, last weekend
This was sequel to a motion moved by Senator Aba Moro (PDP, Benue South), who blamed the attack on the failure of intelligence, during plenary, on Tuesday.
Moro, who once served as Minister of Interior during the President Goodluck Jonathan era, wondered why the assailants were able to attack the Otukpo Divisional Police Headquarters and four banks in broad daylight simultaneously unchallenged for over three hours.
The Senator spoke to reporters in Abuja. He spoke after presenting a motion on the incident.
Moro said, “ When issues like this happen, we must resist the temptation to rubbish institutions. I am not against state police.
“The major problem we have with institutions like the police is lack of preparedness. I want to ask, where wa the intelligence gathering that the Police, the DSS, the NSDC didn’t know?
“Where was their preparedness and alertness even when those people came to town? There were no countermeasures. You can see the villagers running after the robbers.
“Where was the police? I think there was a need for us to identify the security architecture with proper equipment otherwise we are in trouble here.
“Where will about 60 people with Hilux pass? What we need to do is address the security architecture of Nigeria.
“The ninth Senate made recommendations to review the security architecture of this country but it wasn’t implemented. It has become a vicious cycle, we make recommendations but the problem keeps coming.”
Moro further said, “We have several security check points, there is the police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have joined the road block thing.
Earlier, in a motion he moved during plenary, Moro demanded that the incident be immediately investigated by the police and sister security services.
He said, “Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues I rise to inform you that on the 20th of October, 2023 at about 4:15, it was amegedon let loose as men of the underworld invaded Otukpo, the anscestral hometown of the Idoma people unleashing mayhem in the process.
“Consequently, the Senate notes with sadness the dastardly attacks on banks and the police command in Otukpo on the 20th October, 2023 by men suspected to be armed robbers killing about eight persons including four security personnel;“Notes further that suspected armed robbers operated for over one hour with little or no resistance holding the entire town hostage;
“Notes once again that in addition to the letting of blood, millions of Naira were carter away from the banks and arms and Amina from the police command.”
He further explained that residents of the once peaceful town are currently living on the edge.
While appealing to the police and other relevant authorities to unravel the mystery behind the attack, he urged the National Emmergency Management Agency to provide relief materials for the rehabilitation of the Otukpo police command and those injured.
