The families of victims of the 2018 Offa robbery have filed a lawsuit against the Kwara State government and two former governors, accusing them of political ties to the attackers and seeking N2.1 billion in compensation.
The claimants, Abraham Oluwafemi Makinde, Lateef Taiye Raheem, Adeshina Felemo Ayesanmi, and Monsurat Aramide Adebayo, allege that former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed were linked to the convicted robbers, who carried out the attack on April 5, 2018.
The violent robbery targeted the Owode Police Station and several banks in Offa, resulting in over 35 deaths, including police officers and civilians.
In court documents, the claimants allege that the robbers, now convicted, confessed to being political operatives for Saraki and Ahmed. One of the convicts, Ayoade Akinnibosun (also known as AY), reportedly claimed they were used as political thugs to disrupt elections. The claimants argue that these connections emboldened the attackers to carry out the deadly robbery.
The families also accuse the Kwara State government of complicity, alleging that stolen items were hidden in the Government House during Ahmed’s administration.
Makinde, one of the claimants, is the husband of Grace, a pregnant police officer killed in the attack. Another claimant, Raheem, lost his brother, Fatai, the primary provider for a large family, leaving behind two elderly parents, two wives, and five children.
Ayesanmi, the eldest son of late ASP Ayesanmi, and Adebayo, the widow of Kaseem, a bank employee who was murdered, also seek justice for their losses.
The families are demanding N1.5 billion in compensation, N500 million in general damages, and N100 million for legal fees. They are represented by Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) J.J. Usman, Yakubu Philemon, M.I. Abubakar, and A.O.F. Philip.
The Offa robbery remains one of Nigeria’s most notorious crimes, shocking the nation with its scale and brutality. The lawsuit seeks to hold the Kwara State government and its former leaders accountable for alleged political ties and failure to prevent the attack.
This legal action has reignited public discourse on the need for justice and accountability in addressing the lingering impacts of violent crimes in Nigeria.
