Date: 2018-04-10

A member of the Association of Unity Vigilante, Offa Unity Headquarters, Kwara State, Mohammed Ajibade, on Monday said his colleague, Ismaila Jimoh, was killed by the gunmen that robbed banks in Offa while he was rescuing victims.

He explained that he and Jimoh were in their offices when they heard that some robbers were operating in the area.

He stated that Jimoh immediately raced to one of the banks to rescue people, adding that one of the robbers shot him dead.

He spoke when members of the Kwara Youth Networking League paid a condolence visit to some families affected by the attack.

Robbers said to be numbering about 30 had attacked and robbed five banks in Offa, killing scores last Thursday.

Ajibade lamented that his late colleague left two wives, four children and aged parents.

A resident told PUNCH Metro that two dead victims of the robbery were buried on Thursday while 10 others were given a mass burial on Friday.

The Chairman, Kwara Youth Networking League, Mr. Yusuf Abdulkadir, said it was imperative to improve security of lives and property in the country.

He said, "I want to call on federal, state and local governments to step up the security network of the country so that youths who suffer most in this kind of attack can be protected. Statistics of the incident revealed that those who lost their lives were mostly youths."

The Ojomu of Offa, High Chief Joseph Akinnola, lamented the incident and prayed that God would prevent a recurrence.

Meanwhile, an indigene of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, a former General Secretary of National Democratic Coalition, Mr. Ayo Opadokun; a former Secretary, Offa Local Government, Mr. Muftau Adeyemo; and the National Coordinator, Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, have called for improvement of security in Offa.

Opadokun and Adeyemo confirmed that an official of a microfinance bank, Alaunde Jimoh was killed by the robbers.

They, however, clarified that he worked with Stock-Up MFB and not Ibolo MFB, adding that Ibolo MFB was not attacked during the robbery.

Abdulrasaq sympathised with the Olofa, Offa community and families of the victims.

Abdullahi said the robbery attack in Offa had brought to the fore the need to re-enact the law which would make robbery punishable by firing squad.