By Ayo Kareem, Ogun
Thursday November 30, 2023
Unknown Gunmen on Wednesday 29th Nov,shot dead an accountant of the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Oyekanmi, and carted away with the government’s funds.
It was gathered that Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Governor’s Office, had picked an undisclosed amount of money from a branch of Fidelity bank in Abeokuta, and was heading back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.
According to source, the gunmen numbering about five shot the accountant dead under Kuto bridge in Abeokuta and went away with the government’s money.
The bullion’s van registered under the number x pilot 13 was said to have been dangerously intercepted by the Ak47 weilding unknown Gunmen who were said to come to the scenes with a sliver Corolla Toyota color without registration number.
It was gathered that Oyekanmi and other aides who sustained gunshot injuries during the attacks were rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.
It was learnt that the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, had already visited the late accountant’s residence to commiserate with the family.
Confirming the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, said that this afternoon, the accountant with driver and one other person left for Fidelity bank to make some withdrawal, saying they went with an homemade bullion van.
” They were supposed to have a police escort, but for certain reasons, the person was permitted to travel to attend to some issues, so consequently he was not part of the movement .
“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 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,” he said.
The police commissioner said that he had directed the Area Commander to get to the bank and request for CCTV footage which would give the police an insight into the vehicle in question.
” There is possibility of identifying the culprits if they ever ventured to step out of the vehicle or may be 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 hood,” he said.
