Gunmen

Richard Elesho

A broad day robbery inside a market in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital nearly claimed one life on Friday.

It was gathered that the gunmen attacked a road safety officer, simply identified as Abu, who was returning from a bank and heading towards his house at Zango-Daji, a satellite community in Lokoja.

Abu was disposed of yet to be ascertained sum of money after firing several shots at him.

Eye witness accounts stated that the armed robbers trailed the officer who was riding a motorcycle from the bank up to phase one Lokongoma right in front of the Lokongoma market.

He was double-crossed by the criminals, who started dragging the cross bag containing large sums of money with him and in the process shot him three times in both legs and shoulder.

The state police command while confirming the robbery said N139,000 was recovered from the scene while the officer was rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.

The police public relations officer, SP William Aya said that “at exactly 1:30 pm, officers received a distress call and rushed to the scene at Lokongoma, Phase one in Lokoja and met Abu, a Road safety officer in a pool of blood having been shot at both legs and shoulder.

He was coming from the bank when a Toyota   Camry Ash colour car accosted him and blocked him right in front of Lokongoma market, phase 1 in Lokoja and was disposed of unspecified sum of money”.

According to him, a sum of N139,000 was recovered at the scene while the victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

He said that police Commissioner Bertrand Onuoha has drafted officers to the scene to ensure the safety of lives and property and trail the armed robbers to bring them to book.