Offa bank robbery: dismissed officer admits killing 20 policemen

Michael Adiku, the dismissed police corporal-turned leader of the gang that attacked banks in Offa, Kwara State, has told the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that he killed over 20 people, mostly policemen.

The suspect said he killed the policemen because he had scores to settle with the system, adding that they took Tramadol and other hard drugs before embarking on the mission.

Adikwu, a corporal attached to the Kwara State Unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was dismissed after he was accused of freeing suspected robbers. He was charged to court and sent to prison, where he spent three years.

A police source said Adikwu vowed to deal with the police for dismissing and jailing him.

He said: “Adikwu, while in prison, had been threatening to the hearing of other inmates, to kill as many policemen as possible once he had the opportunity. He said since he was dismissed and imprisoned because he released robbers, he would deal with the police.

“He was the organiser of the robbery. He recruited other members and they had a series of meeting. The gang went to Offa three times on surveillance mission. The police station and banks were carefully studied.

“Adikwu led three others into the police station, while others stayed outside. They walked into the station as if they wanted to lodge a complaint with their pistols concealed under their clothes.

“Immediately they entered, Adikwu said he shot the station guard; killed nine policemen at the station and carried their rifles. Over 30 persons were killed that day and Adikwu said he personally killed over 20.

“The attack on the police station was a vendetta.”