KWARA State Government Friday appealed to managements of commercial banks in Offa, Offa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state to resume normal banking operations to alleviate sufferings of the people of the town during business transactions.

  On Thursday, December 19, 2013 dare devil armed robbers raided some four commercial banks in Offa, leaving dead in the process a bank manager and three civilians. This was preceded by an attack on Offa Police station by the same robbers, on the same day, leading to the death of six police officers.

  The development promptly led to permanent closure of commercial banking transactions in the town, thereby forcing the customers to come to Ilorin the state capital for transactions. Even in Ilorin, commercial banks at present, close transactions by 2pm on weekdays.

  Speaking yesterday at the official presentation of three Hilux vans to security operatives in the town, the state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed said the state had concluded plans to establish two additional police stations in the town to beef up security there. Offa, at present is arguably regarded as the second largest town in Kwara, after Ilorin.

  Ahmed, who was represented at the event by Secretary to the State Government Sola Gold, urged the people of the town to volunteer more information to law enforcement agencies as effective security network should not be the exclusive duty of the government and its agencies.

  The vans, jointly procured by Offa LGA and the Offa community, were estimated at the sum of about N20 miillion. One Hilux vehicle each was given to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mobile Police (MOPOL) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).