The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has ordered security agencies to smoke out the killers of Taiwo Oyekanmi, the late Director of Finance and Accounts in the Office of the Governor, who was killed by gunmen in Abeokuta.
Our correspondent gathered that Oyekanmi had picked up some money from a branch of Fidelity Bank in Abeokuta and was heading back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.
Sources said the hooded gunmen, about five of them, intercepted the home-made bullion van while ascending the overhead bridge in the Kuto area and opened fire on the accountant, broke the van’s door and went away with the money.
Insiders said Oyekanmi and other aides who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack were rushed to the General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.
An official of the government told City & Crime that a police escort attached to the accountant was not part of the team as he had taken permission to attend to family matters.
Reacting to the incident, Gov Abiodun said he was devastated and extremely shocked by the incident.
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Lekan Adeniran, Abiodun described the incident as a rude shock, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director.
The statement reads in part: “I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving the cold-blooded murder of Oyekanmi in the hands of criminal elements and enemies of our state.
“It is indeed a colossal loss for our administration to have lost such a dedicated, truthful and diligent official. His assailants have murdered sleep and will be flushed out immediately from wherever they may be hiding.
“I have directed all security agencies in the state to smoke the criminals out instantly and make them face the full wrath of the law. I, therefore, want to assure the entire workforce and residents in the state that never will such calamity befall our dear state again.”