One soldier was reportedly killed when gunmen suspected to be armed robbers attacked an army patrol van with three occupants.
It was gathered that the soldiers were conveying a Ghana-Must-Go bag in their patrol van when the hoodlums opened fire on them and carted away the bags believed to have been loaded with cash.
The incident, it was learnt, happened along the Akpakpava road by First Junction at about 2pm, when the vehicle with three soldiers were held by traffic at the First Junction on their way to Ikpoba Hill axis of Benin.
It was gathered that the hoodlums drove an unmarked Toyota Camry car against the traffic towards the army vehicle when two of the four occupants alighted from the vehicle and opened fire on the soldiers.
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It was learnt that the soldiers jumped out of the vehicle and fled but one of them who was hit by a bullet fell down while trying to escape and died a few metres away from the scene.
It was further gathered that the hoodlums carted away the bags into their vehicle and zoomed off while passersby watched the scene.
Witnesses said many people would have died if the soldiers had the opportunity to respond to their attackers as the junction is a busy area for business activities.
The Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson person, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, said a soldier was killed when hoodlums attacked a military patrol vehicle.
“Edo State Police Command can confirm that a military man was killed today in Benin City. A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighbourhood.
“The hoodlums carted away Ghana-Must-Go bags believed to have been loaded with cash kept inside the army van.”
