The Chief Imam of Ijagbo, Muftau Jamiu, has narrated to reporters on how his brother was among the victims of the shootings at the Offa Bank robbery that took place in the town on Thursday.
The death of his brother identified as Alawunde Jamius was a devastating blow and a tragedy for the family, the chief Imam says.
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 oblivious of the impending disaster.
Robbers, said to be numbering about 15, had attacked and robbed some banks, killed and injured scores of victims last Thursday.
Though the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, said 17 people comprising nine policemen and eight civilians died in the robbery incidents, the Operations Commander, Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Offa chapter, Mr. Wasiu Adepoju, said the vigilantes counted about 50 dead bodies after the incident.
The affected banks are: Union Bank, EcoBank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank.
In an interview with our correspondent, 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.
In response to the Offa Bank robbery, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the deployment of three units of Police Mobile Force, high-powered police investigation team and Armoured Personnel Carriers to Kwara.
The Force spokesman, ACP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday said anti-robbery equipment and 10 crew members were also deployed to the state.
