Offa Bank Robbery: How We Killed 11 Persons – Suspects
Offa Bank Robbery: How We Killed 11 Persons – Suspects
Four suspects of the April 5, 2018 Offa, Kwara state bank robbery yesterday told an Ilorin High Court how they killed no fewer than
eleven persons during the incident.
The suspects Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham,
Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran were all present in the court
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, Counsel to the
prosecution Mr. Rotimi Jacob called the seventh witness, Inspector John
Nwoke, who is the cinematographer attached to the force
Public Relations unit, Abuja.
Nwoke then presented a DVD video to the open court that contained
the confessional statements of the defendants
All but one of the defendants—Ayoade Aknnibosun—said that they shot
dead eleven persons, who were hauling stones and other missiles at
them.
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Ayoade Akinnibosun narrated how a dismissed police officer Michael
Adikwu (now late) sold the robbery idea to him, adding that he in turn
conscripted his other four accomplices to the deal.
Akinnibosun, who claimed to be the ring leader in the video revealed
that he owned the two vehicles used for the bloody robbery operation.
He said that one of the vehicles, Lexus sport utility vehicle (SUV)
was given to him as an empowerment by the then Kwara state Governor as he was the leader of political liberation movement
in Kwara South.
He added : “I came into contact with the dismissed policeman (Adikwu)
through a revenue collection stuff. After the meeting with Adikwu, I
relayed to Ibikunle Ogunleye who also relayed same to Adeola Abraham
otherwise known as Adex. Azeez Salawu and Niyi Ogundiran are both
mechanics.
“On the fateful day of April 5th, 2018 we the five of us moved from,
Oro, Irepodun local government area of the state to Ajase-Ipo where we
parked the SUV under a tree and we all drove in the Mercedes Benz to
Offa. At Offa, we parked in front of the Total filling station where
late Adikwu was waiting for us in a black Audi car.
“There was also a Nissan Premeria car parked in front of us at the
Total filling station where some other people that came with Adikwu
were waiting. Shortly, thereafter Adikwu handed over a sack to me
containing five AK47 rifles.
“As the commander of my gang, I distributed the guns and directed
every member to take his position. I positioned myself at the
Roundabout leading to Igosun from Offa.
“After the robbery Adikwu did not give us a dime. He only promised to
call me when it is time to share the loot. Then we all hurriedly left
the community. On getting to Ijagbo, Oyun local government area, our
vehicle stretched to a halt awaiting Adikwu who came and collected the
five AK47 from me.”
Also speaking, Ibikunle Ogunleye (2nd defendant) said he was
traditionally positioned at the First Bank premises in the metropolis
before Adikwu dragged him to come along to the Offa police station.
He added that he shot dead two people who were trying to escape at the
gate of the police station.
He said that at the police station Adikwu and his gangs fired many shots at
the station killing scores of policemen in the process.
In their own testimonies, Adeola Abraham, Azeez Salawu and Niyi
Ogundiran said that they had not handled rifle before the robbery
incident.
However, each of Abraham, Salawu and Ogundiran confessed to have shot
dead five, two and two persons respectively to prevent being stoned to
death by members of the public.
Presiding Judge, Justice Haleemah Salman adjourned the case to March 15th and
16th for the continuation of trial.
