TheCable

Michael Adiku, a dismissed police corporal, has reportedly confessed to killing over 20 people during the attack on banks and a police station in Offa, Kwara state.

The police said Adiku led the gang in the robbery incident that left many dead in April.

Adiku was quoted as telling the inspector-general of police (IG) intelligence response team (IRT) that he led the attack to revenge his “wrongful” dismissal from the force.

Before his dismissal, Adiku was a corporal attached to the Kwara state unit of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS). He was said to have been sacked after he was accused of freeing suspected robbers.

He was charged to court and sent to prison, where he spent three years.

A police source told The Nation that while in prison, the ex-corporal vowed to “deal” with the police.

“He (Adikwu) had been threatening to the hearing of other inmates to kill as many policemen as possible once he had the opportunity. He said since he was dismissed and imprisoned because he released robbers, he would deal with the police,” the source was quoted as saying.

“He was the organiser of the (Offa) robbery. He recruited other members and they had a series of meeting. The gang went to Offa three times on surveillance mission. The police station and banks were carefully studied.

“Adikwu led three others into the police station, while others stayed outside. They walked into the station as if they wanted to lodge a complaint with their pistols concealed under their clothes.

“Immediately they entered, Adikwu said he shot the station guard; killed nine policemen at the station and carried their rifles. Over 30 persons were killed that day and Adikwu said he personally killed over 20. The attack on the police station was a vendetta.”