Offa Robbery: Bank Sacks Employees Over CCTV Footage Leakage

The management of one of the commercial banks attacked by
robbers in Offa, Kwara State, has reportedly sacked five of its
workers for releasing Closed Circuit Television footage of the robbery
to the public.
A reliable source in the bank said the management viewed the release
of the footage without official approval as “gross indiscipline,” which
was capable of affecting the security and image of the bank.
PUNCH Metro had reported that on Thursday, April 5, armed robbers
invaded five banks in Offa, Kwara State, killing scores of residents,
including policemen, bank workers and passersby.
The assailants were said to have carted away millions of naira as
they robbed the banks for about one hour without any challenge from
security agents.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ado Lawan, who put the
casualty figure at 17, said nine policemen died during the attack.
The Operations Commander, Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Offa, Kwara
State chapter, Wasiu Adepoju, however, said vigilantes in the state
counted 50 dead bodies.
A video clip of the incident had gone viral shortly afterwards,
revealing how the robbers enterendent learnt that the management
of the bank was surprised at how the video got into public space and
sacked five of its workers last Friday.
The Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi,
said the Nigeria Police Force would also deal with anyone linked to
the robbery.
Okesanmi spoke in response to reports that the Divisional Crime
Officer and the Divisional Police Officer of the Offa Police Station
allegedly failed to take necessary actions before the robbers
attacked.
It was also said that the robbers only collected the phones of the
DPO and the DCO and allowed them to escape.
Okasanmi said both civilians and uniformed men linked to the incident
would not go scot-free.
While saying that investigation was ongoing, he noted that the
police were determined to get to the root of “persistent robberies”
in Offa.
“Whether civilian or police, whoever is found culpable would be dealt
with accordingly,” he added.
In another development, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi,
and the Elerin of Erin Ile, Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola, have said two
neighbouring communities in Kwara State had decided to cohabit
peacefully after some years of conflict.
They spoke during a peace summit in Ilorin organised by the Ladorb
Peace Initiative.
The people of Offa, in the Offa Local Government Area, and Erin Ile, in
the Oyun LGA of the state, had been embroiled in community clashes
which had led to the loss of many lives and destruction of property.
Ajibola commended the efforts of the conveners, saying his people
were ready for peace.
He advised stakeholders to allow peace to reign, adding that peace
and unity would boost development and prosperity.
Gbadamosi, who was represented by a high chief, Chief Yunusa
Oyeyemi, said Offa people believed in peace.
He appealed to residents of the areas to speak the truth and imbibe
the spirit of forgiveness for a lasting solution.
The chairman of the organising committee, Ladorb Peace Initiative,
Umar Balogun, said the conflicts had discouraged investments and
slow development in the areas.