The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of a soldier but denied stealing of huge cash by gunmen in the army vehicle during the robbery attack on its personnel in Edo State.
Recall that a four-man robbery gang reportedly attacked an army van along Akpakpava Road by First East Circular junction, killing one officer and carting away bags suspected to contain cash.
A statement by Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin, Yemi Sokoya, said the army in collaboration with other sister security agencies was on the trail of the attackers and that they would soon be brought to book.
The statement read in parts: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to inaccurate narratives in the media space with respect to the attack on a military Hilux vehicle at Akpakpava Road in Benin City, Edo State, by some gunmen.
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“Contrary to several reports, a clerk from 4 Brigade Finance Office and a driver went to fix the office printer and also stopped at WEMA Bank to process and collect a bank statement.”
He said the attackers who must have trailed and noticed that the soldiers were not armed, opened fire on the vehicle at a traffic light junction, thinking the soldiers were carrying money.
“But when they discovered the vehicle was empty, they zoomed off. Some of the bullets hit the driver on the chest and he lost his life in the hospital,” he said.
He, however, said the report that the armed robbers made away with huge cash in a Ghana Must Go bag; is entirely false, as no cash was involved.
