Tragedy struck on Tuesday evening as gunmen attacked a bullion van, killing a police officer and two women at Ubulu-Okiti, along the Benin-Asaba expressway, Aniocha South local government area of Delta State.
The Guardian learned that the gunmen, numbering about 10, came out of a bush on sighting the bullion van and began shooting sporadically until the bullion van that was conveying raw cash to a new generation bank and the escorts stopped.
It was learned that the gunmen had a gun-battle with security personnel attached to the van but overpowered them and succeeded in killing a police officer and two women close to the scene, before making away with cash running into millions of naira. One of the women killed by a stray bullet was a female passenger of a bus caught in the crossfire.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the robbery attack caused a serious gridlock on the ever-busy expressway, as motorists, passengers, and villagers close to the scene scampered for safety. The source said it took a while for those who ran into the bush to come out even when the robbers had gone.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the attack. He said: “Yes, it actually happened but I don’t have details”.
