The national commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh, has described the killing of security operatives and some innocent citizens in Otukpo, Benue state during a robbery attack as “wicked and retarding”.
Daily Trust had reported how at least eight people were killed when armed robbers invaded four banks in the town on Friday.
Akoh, while condemning the incident in a statement he personally signed and sent to Daily Trust, called on the government to lay out programmes and activities that are geared towards the meaningful engagement of the youth in productive ventures in order to take them away from crime.
The PCN boss, who doubles as the Oyachaba K’Idoma recalled how a similar incident of bank robbery in Otukpo led to the killing of some police officers on duty in Ojali some years ago, saying the recent attack was one attack too many that must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible.
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He said intelligence gathering should be a major panacea to the lingering security lapses that have left the area porous and often at the mercy of men of the underworld, adding that no landmark development can be achieved without the security of lives and property of the people.
“Security men can achieve little if taken unawares in arms combat just as witnessed in this case. Perpetrators of such organized crime must have studied the terrain and the security gaps before striking.
“I call on Idoma sons and daughters to be united in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges in Benue South,” the Benue-born peace advocate stated.
While applauding the prompt responses of the men of the Nigeria Army, the Nigeria Police, the DSS and the brave Idoma Youth for combating those criminals leading to the death of two of them, Akoh called on the various security agencies to continue to synergise.
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