The number of persons that lost their lives to the bank robbery in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, on Thursday may have risen to 30, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
This was a sharp increase in the 12, comprising six policemen and six civilians, that was reported on Friday.
Several eyewitnesses who spoke with one of our correspondents said body count at the scene of the incident indicated that those who lost their lives were about 30.
One of them said, “I personally counted up to 30 dead bodies and I am sure the figure might increase because a lot of people were critically injured by gunshots.”
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado, said on Friday that nine policemen and seven civilians were killed by the armed robbers that stormed five banks in Offa. The operation lasted for over one hour. It was also learnt that the armed robbers, who were about 30, blew up the entrances to the banks with dynamite and reportedly carted away millions of naira.
They had shot aimlessly and killed many people during the operation.