Gunmen Attacked Army Patrol Van In Benin, Carted Away Money

From Chris Akhabue

Gunmen suspected to be dare-devil robbers yesterday attacked army patrol van killing a soldier, carted away sack bag (Ghana-Most-Go bag) believed to have been loaded with cash, in Benin City.

Three soldiers were in the military vehicle heading towards Ikpoba-hill axis when the fearless assailants ambushed them at the traffic lights along Akpakpava road by First Junction at about 2: 10 p.m in the state capital.

It was gathered that the hoodlums drove an unmarked ash-color Toyota Camry car against the traffic (one way) towards the army vehicle as two of the four occupants alighted and opened fire on the soldiers.

Amid the rain of bullets, the three soldiers were said to have abandoned their patrol vehicle and the loaded Ghana-must-go bag as they raced to different directions.

Sources said the attackers grabbed the bag from the military patrol van, dropped it in their operational Toyota Camry car and sped off like a scene in a gangster movie.

It could not however be ascertained whether the soldiers were armed and their arms taken away by the assailants.

The incident, first of its kind in recent years in the state capital, sent cold shivers down the spine of traders and motorists in and around Dawson area of Benin City.

When our correspondent visited the scene a few minutes after the attack, blood of the victim was visible on a walkway in front of a petrol station as shop owners hurriedly closed businesses.

Some hawkers who witnessed and narrated the ugly attack to Champion Newspaper said many people around would have died if the soldiers had opportunity to respond to the gunfire of their attackers.

“One of the three soldiers fell down there while running away, he tried to get up, but he couldn’t, he was just bleeding. Later, his two other colleagues came out to meet him but they were helpless.

“Imagine a popular and busy Junction like this, government cannot install security cameras to record whatever is going on here, it’s unfortunate”, a shop owner said.

Contacted, the Public Relations Officer, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army headquarters, Benin City, Captain Yusuf Sokoya said “ok, I will find out if it is true, don’t call again, I will call you”.

Capt. Sokoya was yet to redeem his promise as at press time.

However, when contacted, the spokesman for Edo State Police Command SP Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident.

He said a soldier was killed when hoodlums attacked a military patrol vehicle at first Junction, Akpakpava road, Benin City some minutes past 2 pm today.

“Edo State Police Command can confirm that a military personnel was killed today in Benin City. A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighborhood.The hoodlums carted away Ghana-Must-Go bag believed to have been loaded with cash kept inside the army van.

“Since they were in their patrol vehicle, they should be armed. The assailants acted on information. Investigation will unravel all that,” SP Chidi Nwabuzor stated.