Offa Community Split Over Kwara High Court Ruling on 2018 Bank Robbery
The recent judgment of the Kwara State High Court regarding the 2018 Offa banks robbery has left the community divided. After a six-year trial, Justice Haleema Salman last week sentenced the remaining five suspects involved in the robbery to death by hanging. The convicts—Ayoade Akinnibosun, Azeez Salahudeen, Niyi Ogundiran, Ibikunle Ogunleye, and Adeola Abraham—were found guilty of the brutal attack that claimed the lives of 32 people, including nine policemen.
The ruling, however, has sparked differing opinions within the Offa community. On Thursday, the home branch of the Offa Descendants' Union (ODU) urged the Kwara State Government to revisit the case, raising concerns about the judgment.
The Offa robbery, which occurred on April 5, 2018, shocked the nation due to the sheer scale of the violence and loss of life, and the recent court ruling has revived emotional reactions from different quarters of the community.
Addressing journalists in Offa, the chairman of the union, Chief Tajudeen Lanre Shittu, said though the community welcomed the judgement, it expressed reservations 'that many questions have not been answered'.
They called on the state government to expedite action on the execution of the judgement.
'There is the need for a holistic probing of all the factors, notions and personalities, so as to remove the public impression that the Nigeria Police investigation on the incident is incomplete and certain individuals are being covered up.
“The community is unsatisfied with how the police command handled the investigation and expressed reservations. Those who supplied the vehicle used for the robbery and all those mentioned during the course of trial should be investigated”.
But in a statement last night, some 'leaders of thought and indigenes under the aegis of Offa Koya, Offa Kowosi, dismissed the position of the home branch, adding that it was politically motivated
They accused the ODU home branch chairman of using the community's name for cheap politics.
When contacted last night, the national secretary of national branch of the ODU, Mrs Wosilat McCarthy, said Shittu cannot be speaking for the ODU.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Toyin Sanusi Alabi Lawal Jimoh Akani Hajj Mohammed Saidu GGDSS Pakata Saad Belgore Atunwa Irepodun Salihu Yahaya Lanre Badmus Ibrahim Agboola Gambari Saka Abimbola Isau Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia Facebook Justina Oha Noah Yusuf Saheed Alakoso Susan Modupe Oluwole 20 Billion Bond Ilesha Gwanara Road Valsolar Consultoria Post Utme Tayo Awodiji Yunus Lawal Aliyu Salihu Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu Offa Poly Haliru Dantoro Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners Nnazua NURTW Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye LABTOP Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku Ilorin Muslim Community Leke Ogungbe Alimi Abdulrazaq Kwara State Government Kamaldeen Ajibade Olaiya Victor Mobolaji Convocation Ceremonies Muhammadu Buhari Olupako Of Share Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria IFK Abdulquowiyu Olododo Ijagbo Playing Host Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education Ibrahim Mashood Anilelerin Haruna Tambiri Mohammed Lotus Bank Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Kolade Solagberu Ekweremadu Umar Adelodun Henry Olaosebikan Clara Nwachukwu Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity Oloruntoyosi Thomas Olayinka Jelili Yusuf Elerin Of Adanla Irese Abdulrazaq Akorede Abdulwahab Oba Kwara Teaching Service Commission Tsaragi/Share Micheal Imoudu Oba Of Jebba Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development Old Oyo Ayobami Seriki Olajumoke Monsura Gafar Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla

