Robbers gun down Ogun top official

A Director of Finance and Accounts attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Taiwo Oyekanmi, was on Wednesday afternoon reportedly shot dead by robbers.

Oyekanmi was said to have been gunned down on NNPC Bridge, while coming from the bank where he had gone to make withdrawals in preparation for Thursday’s budget presentation by the governor.

The Director was rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta where he was pronounced dead.

Two top civil servants at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, confirmed the incident saying that the incident has thrown the secretariat into mourning mood.

Likewise, Ogun Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed the incident.

He said “This afternoon, the Director of Finance with the driver and one other person left for Fidelity bank to make some withdrawal, they went with the homemade bullion van. They were supposed to have a police escort, but for certain reasons, he was not part of the movement today.

“According to the story, after making the withdrawal, and on their way back to the office, they were accosted. A vehicle blocked them on top of the bridge, five occupants of the vehicle came down, shot at the Director and from their vehicle, they brought out a sledge hammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money.

“As at that time there was no information, the police escort was not with the team and they sped off.

“The driver claimed to have trailed them to a point along Conference Hotel where he lost contact with them.

“The Director that was shot was thereafter taken to Ijaye hospital where he eventually gave up the ghost.”

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

“For our investigation, I have directed the area commander to get to the bank and request for the CCTV footage which will give us insight into the vehicle in question and 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 used hoods.” Alamutu said.