There was tension in the along Akpakpava Road by First Junction, Benin, the Edo State capital as gunmen suspected to be armed on Wednesday attacked an Army patrol van.
It was learnt that the gunmen killed a soldier and carted away sacks believed to have been loaded with cash.
This was confirmed by the Police Spokesman, Edo State Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who told newsmen that the robbery took place at the First Eastern Circular and Akpakpaba Roads intersection in the Edo capital.
Nwabuzor explained that three soldiers were in the military vehicle that was heading towards Ikpoba Hill when the robbers struck at a traffic lights around 2.10 pm.
The suspects drove an unmarked Toyota Camry car against the traffic facing the military vehicle as two of the four occupants allegedly alighted and opened fire on the soldiers.
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Nwabuzor said investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack was on-going.
He said, “The Edo State Police Command can confirm that a soldier was killed on Wednesday in Benin City.
“A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighbourhood. The hoodlums carted away bags believed to have been loaded with cash kept inside the Army van.”
Eyewitnesses said the armed men took the bags from the patrol van after the soldiers had fled.
A shop owner said, “One of the three soldiers fell while running away, he tried to get up, but he couldn’t, he was bleeding. Later, his two other colleagues came to meet him but they were helpless.”
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army headquarters, Benin City, Captain Yusuf Sokoya, simply said, “I will find out if it is true. Don’t call again, I will call you.”
Sokoya was yet to revert as promised as of press time.