Suspected gunmen attacked an Army patrol van in Benin City, Edo State, killing a soldier and stealing bags believed to be filled with cash.
The attack occurred at a traffic light along Akpakpava Road when the assailants, driving an unmarked ash-colored Toyota Camry, fired upon the military vehicle. During the gunfire exchange, the three soldiers abandoned their patrol vehicle and the bags. Sadly, one soldier fell and died from his injuries.
Eyewitnesses stated that the attackers swiftly took the bags from the military van, placed them in their Toyota Camry, and fled. The aftermath of the attack was visible at the scene, with blood on the walkway and shop owners hurriedly closing their businesses.
Those who witnessed the incident noted that the situation could have been much worse had the soldiers been able to respond to the attackers’ gunfire. One soldier was unable to escape and bled on the ground while his colleagues were unable to assist him.
A shop owner expressed frustration over the lack of security cameras at such a busy junction and criticized the government for not taking such preventive measures.
Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, confirmed the incident. He revealed that the soldier was killed during an attack on a military patrol vehicle and that the attackers acted on information. The stolen bag was believed to contain cash, and Nwabuzor emphasized that the investigation would uncover more details.
