- Offa Robberies: IG Summons Saraki Again
The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has again invited the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office at Guzape, Abuja, for interrogation over alleged links to the masterminds of the Offa bank robberies.
The IG, in a letter dated July 23 addressed to Saraki, asked him to report to the police on Tuesday (Today) at 8am to provide further clarification on his relationship with the five leaders of the robbery gang.
The robbers had attacked some commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State on April 5 during which nine policemen and 33 persons were killed.
Following the attack, the police arrested 27 suspects including five leaders of the gang and also recovered some AK47 rifles.
The police said their investigation into the matter showed that all the five gang leaders, namely: Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez and Niyi Ogundiran had a direct connection with the Senate President.
Subsequently, the force invited Saraki for interrogation over his alleged links to the gangsters, but the Senate President snubbed the summons and instead wrote a letter denying his involvement in the bank robberies.
But the IG in his letter insisted that the gang leaders claimed they were political thugs to Saraki, adding that “the Senate President supplies arms and money to the thugs; that everyone in Kwara Central fears them because of their guns and ability to kill anybody without hesitation.”
The letter explained that the suspects also mentioned other thugs in Kwara Central with guns “which Senator Bukola Saraki is sponsoring, (such) as Alhaji Alawo, Alhaji Dona, and Alhaji Jawando, among others.”
It added that Saraki in his response to the police said he had large followership by virtue of his participation in politics which made it impossible for him to know all his supporters.
After a careful perusal of Saraki’s letter, the IG said it was discovered that the Senate President’s statement required further clarification coupled with the fact that he complained about not having access to the statements made by the robbery suspects.
The letter read, “After a careful perusal of your letter to the police, it was discovered that the statement requires further clarification and coupled with the fact that you stated that the full text of the statements of the suspects was not shown to you, it is imperative you report to the police to make further statements after giving you the full text of the statements of the suspects.”
“It is in line with the above that you are requested to report to the head of the investigation team at the Intelligence Response Team at Guzape Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja on the 24th of July, 2018 at 8am for further investigation on the matter,” it added.
