Gunmen Ambush Bullion Van in Abeokuta, Shot Dead Governor’s Office Accountant, Cart Away Money

A bullion van conveying the Ogun State Government’s cash from a bank has been ambushed by masked gunmen in Abeokuta, the state capital.

An accountant in the governor’s office, Taiwo Oyekanmi, was shot dead in the bullion van on top of the NNPC flyover bridge on Wednesday. Some of his aides in the bullion van were injured.

The state police commissioner, Abiodun Alamutu, confirming the incident, said the bullion van was supposed to have a police escort. Still, for one reason, the police escort was permitted to travel to solve some issues.

According to the report, after withdrawing money from the bank branch in Abeokuta, the accountant and his team were returning to the governor’s office when it was ambushed.

Alamutu said a vehicle with five occupants blocked the bullion van on top of the NNPC bridge, came down from their vehicle, and shot the accountant in the bullion van.

The gunmen then brought out a sledgehammer from their vehicle and forced open the door of the bullion van where money was kept. They took the money and escaped.

The accountant was rushed to the state hospital in Ijaye, where he died later.

The secretary to the state government, Tokunbo Talabi, had led a state government delegation to offer condolences to the family of the accountant.

Also, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in a statement, expressed shock at the incident and directed security agencies to fish out the fleeing robbers.

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He condoled the families of the slain accountant and called for prayers to give them the necessary fortitude to bear the great loss.

Alamutu said he had demanded the CCTV footage from the bank to aid police investigation.

“For our investigation, I have directed the area commander to get to the bank and request the CCTV footage which will give us an insight into the vehicle in question and the possibility of identifying the culprits if they ever ventured to step out of the vehicle or maybe they just maintained their position in the vehicle.

“I have reached out to Lagos and everywhere in the command to block all the exits out of the state while we are trying to identify them because they said they were five and they wore hoods.”

Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary to the Governor,  Lekan Adeniran, described the incident as a rude shock to him, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director.

“I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving news of 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 might 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.

“I pray for the repose of his soul and for God’s protection over the family he left behind. Obviously,  he is going to be sorely missed by his relatives, colleagues, and the government he meritoriously served till death.”