Day Light Robbery In Edo: Dare Devil Robbers Attack Military Patrol Van, Kill Soldier, Others Escape With Bullets Wounds

By Ayodele Oni

It was like a movie in Benin City when fully armed dare-devil robbers in a day light operation, attacked an army patrol van. They  killed a soldier, and carted away sacks of bag believed to be loaded with cash.

Three soldiers were said to be in the military vehicle heading towards Ikpoba-hill axis when the fearless assailants ambushed them at the traffic light along Akpakpava road by First Junction in Benin metropolis.

Shops around the vicinity, which is a major commercial nerve centre of the city were hurriedly locked as people took cover to escape being hit by stray bullet.

It was gathered that the hoodlums drove an unmarked ash-color Toyota Camry car against the traffic and faced 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 and ran to different directions.

It was further gathered that one of the fleeing soldiers was however unlucky. He fell down and died about 84 meters away from the scene of attack, after he was fatally wounded by the assailants’ bullets.

The attackers later grabbed the bag from the military patrol van, dropped it in their operational Toyota Camry car and sped off.

The incident, is a major day light operation, years after the notorious armed robber, Lawrence Anini and his gang members were arrested and executed in Benin.

Spokesman for Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident.

He said a soldier was killed when hoodlums attacked a military patrol vehicle at the first Junction, Akpakpava Road, Benin City, some minutes past 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Edo State Police Command can confirm that a military personnel was killed today (Wednesday) in Benin City.

“A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighbourhood.

“The hoodlums carted away a 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. The investigation will unravel all that.”