Kwara Artisans To IGP: Don’t Politicize Offa Robbery

The Kwara State Artisan Congress (KWACO) has called on the Nigerian police to carry out a thorough investigation into the Offa bank robbery and avoid politicising it.

President of the congress, Alhaji Alawaye who led a peaceful protest to the Government house on Monday disclosed that members of the congress embarked on the protest in solidarity with the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Alawaye noted that the 104 associations under the congress have benefited from the state’s Small and Medium Enterprise scheme, for which they are grateful.

He added that if any of the beneficiaries was caught in any suspected act of criminality, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki or Governor Ahmed can’t be held responsible.

The president, therefore pledged the congress’s unalloyed support and belief in Dr. Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

In his remarks, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said what is expected of the Nigerian Police is a thorough investigation to ensure that all those involved in the Offa robbery are apprehended and prosecuted.

He said the incident that claimed 33 lives in Offa was too serious to be used as a political tool.

The governor recalled that there was an aggrieved dismissed police officer, Micheal Adikwu who gave an interview explaining why he led the attack but who was not paraded among the other suspects.

While noting that other suspects may not have been apprehended, Governor Ahmed maintained that the publicity given to the investigation might lead to the escape of those still at large.

However, the governor said Nigerians will continue to believe in the judicial system and the leadership of the country under President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure justice and equity

Furthermore, Ahmed noted that the government set up a Small and Medium Enterprise scheme as a deliberate act to support and raise entrepreneurs as well as grow the state’s economy.

He added that those who have chosen to use the support given to them to engage in criminality must be made to face the wrath of the law.

The governor said the state government will continue to empower its people to grow the economy from civil service driven to private sector driven.

Members of the Artisan congress carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Artisans say no to intimidation, “Saraki is not a criminal”, “Megida is our good man”, “Empowerment is not a crime, “Kwara State, it’s good here, “Don’t politicise Offa bank robbery”.