A soldier lost his life during a violent robbery incident in Benin City on Wednesday, as confirmed by the police on Thursday.
Spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, informed the press that the robbery occurred at the intersection of First Eastern Circular and Akpakpaba Roads, in the capital city of Edo.
According to Nwabuzor, the soldier was fatally shot by armed robbers who attacked the patrol van carrying the soldier and two of his comrades.
The patrol van was escorting another vehicle loaded with “Ghana-Must-Go” bags, believed to contain a substantial amount of cash.
Nwabuzor stated that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the attack.
“The Edo State Police Command can confirm the killing of a soldier in Benin City on Wednesday. The incident was reported to the local police station by a concerned citizen,” said Nwabuzor.
“The hoodlums made off with the ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bags, which are believed to have contained a substantial amount of cash,” he added.
“Given that they were in a patrol vehicle, the soldiers should have been armed. The assailants must have acted on inside information,” Nwabuzor stated.
An eyewitness, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), revealed that the assailants, numbering four, drove against traffic flow in an unmarked Toyota Camry towards the army vehicle.
The eyewitness further explained that two of the assailants exited the vehicle and opened fire on the soldiers.
“The soldiers tried to flee the scene, but unfortunately, one of them was hit by bullets and could not escape,” said the witness. “If the soldiers had retaliated, many innocent people in the bustling area would have been caught in the crossfire,” the witness added. (NAN)
