More revelations are coming in from the arrested members of the gang that carried out the dastardly armed robbery in the sleeping town of Offa, Kwara State as the leader of the gang, dismissed Corporal Michael Adikwu, has owned up to killing the nine policemen shot dead during the operation.
No fewer than 30 persons were killed during the operation in which five banks were hit.
According to available information, the gang members, including Adikwu, who worked with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Kwara State before his dismissal for releasing armed robbers and his being sent to jail, and Kunle Ogunleye, popularly known as Arrow, have confessed to the part each person played in the robbery operation.
They were quizzed by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence and Response Team, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Adikwu told the IRT operatives that his killing of the policemen was not a mistake, but quite deliberate.
Ogunleye said he killed two people during the operation.
Another member of the gang, simply identified as Abel, also confessed to have killed five people.
Abel reportedly said: “I killed five people, but I sprayed bullets on many people.
“I don’t know if they died.
“I can only confirm the death of five people, who I witnessed myself.”
A police source said: “Adikwu, the dismissed SARS officer, while in prison, had been threatening to the hearing of other inmates that he would kill as many policemen as possible once he had the opportunity.
“He said that since police dismissed and made him go to him prison because he released armed robbers, that he too would deal with the police.”
The source added that Adikwu was the grand organiser of the robbery.
He was alleged to have recruited other members and had series of meetings with them.
A police source said: “The gang went to Offa three times on surveillance mission.
“The police station and banks were carefully studied.”
The source revealed that Adikwu led the first team to enter the police station, while others stayed outside, adding: “He led three gang members into the station.