Posted by From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City on
A branch manager of the Standard Trust Bank (STB) in Benin-City, the Edo Statae capital has reportely been shot dead by suspected hired assassins, even as a manger of a popular filling station in the metropolis was also killed during an armed robbery attack on the station.
A branch manager of the Standard Trust Bank (STB) in Benin-City, the Edo Statae capital has reportely been shot dead by suspected hired assassins, even as a manger of a popular filling station in the metropolis was also killed during an armed robbery attack on the station.
Both incident, which have been confirmed by police authorithies in the state, occurred last weekend, creating new security fears among citizens over the coming Yuletide particularly in the city.
THISDAY gathered that the deceased banker, Mr. Tony Igunbe was probably trailed to his hometown, Agenebode where he had reportedly travelled for a weekend programme.
According to the Edo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Peter Ogboi, who confirmed both incidents to THISDAY yesterday, though it was unclear at what point during the journey the attackers began trailing the banker, the report indicated that the killers trailed him to his home.
Te deceased was said to be alighting from his car in anticipation of warm welcome from affectionate family members when the killers suddenly pulled up behind him and immediately opened fire on him, killing him instantly.
The police spokesman, who said "the police has already swung into action with a view to unravelling the murder with the Commissioner of Police directing that the case be transferred to the State CID", saying they were working on the theory that he was killed by hired assassins.
In the other incident, the manager (unidentified) in one of the Mobil filling station along the busy Ugowo-Lagos Road was killed while several other sustained injuries when armed bandits reportely stormed the place shooting indiscriminately and carted away money and valuables yet to be estimated.
During the last Yuletide, in December 2004 and January 2005, a near total siege to Benin-City by armed bandits forced the State Government to send and SOS to the Federal Government which then authorized a joint police-military security team, code-named Operation Mesa. The team was eventually dismanded by the State Government in August.