Date: 2018-04-10

The Chief Imam of Ijagbo, Muftau Jamiu, on Sunday, April 8, narrated how his brother, Alawunde Jamiu, died during the armed robbery experienced by some banks in Offa, Kwara state, on Thursday, April 5.

The Islamic cleric said Alawunde's death was a devastating blow and a tragedy for the family. He stated that Alawunde, who until his death was the Operations Manager of Ibolo Micro-Finance Bank in Offa, Offa local government area of Kwara state, had gone to work unaware of the impending disaster.

Though the Kwara state commissioner of police, Lawan Ado, said 17 people comprising nine policemen and eight civilians died in the robbery incident, the operations commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Offa chapter, Wasiu Adepoju, said the vigilantes counted about 50 dead bodies after the incident, Punch reports.

The affected banks are Union Bank, EcoBank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank. In an interview with Punch, Jamiu said Alawunde had gone to work that day, but he was hit by a bullet. He said the office of his late brother was near Zenith Bank in Offa.

He said those who learnt of Alawunde's death called him to come to Alawunde's office, noting that he was shocked to see his brother's lifeless body upon arrival.

Jamiu said though the family had accepted Alawunde's death in good faith, it was a big setback to the happiness of the wife and their four children.

NAIJ.com previously reported that the minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday, April 8, paid a condolence visit to Governor Abdul Fatah Ahmed of Kwara, over the last week's bank robbery in Offa. Mohammed also condoled with the families of the victims of the April 5 robbery attack.

He said the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, had assured that perpetrators of robbery attack would be arrested and brought to justice.