…..They went away with N112 m
Hooded gunmen weny bizarre in Abeokuta on Wednesday 29 November ambushed, robbed, and killed an accountant of the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Oyekanmi, who had gone to the bank to withdraw government funds in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Sources told newspot that he had gone to withdraw N112,335,000.
Oyekanmi was a Director of Finance at the Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan, had reportedly gone to pick the amount of money from a branch of Fidelity Bank in Abeokuta, and was on his way back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.
It was further gathered that the hoodlums wielding sledge hammers, broke the bullion van’s door and went away with the money.
Oyekanmi, a chartered accountant, had once served as Assistant General Secretary of ICAN Abeokuta & District Society.
Oyekanmi and other officials who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack were rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.
A police escort attached to the accountant, a government official, said that he was not part of the team as he had taken permission to attend to family matters.
The Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Tokunbo Talabi, visited the late accountant’s residence to commiserate with the family Wednesday afternoon.
The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, confirmed the incident in a telephone chat
He said, “This afternoon, the accountant, the Director of Finance with driver and one other person left for Fidelity Bank to make some withdrawal. They went with 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 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 added that he had demanded for the CCTV footage from the bank to aid the police’s investigation.
He said, “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
Details later emerged on how a 5-man gang escaped with N112,335,000.
Discreet investigation revealed that the Director of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi had taken the bullion van to withdraw N97,335,000 from Fidelity Bank and N15,000,000 from Sterling Bank in Abeokuta, Ogun State when his team ran into the ambush.
According to insiders and police sources, the late Oyekanmi had gone to the banks without his police escort who had excused himself for the day.
His driver had also reportedly vamoosed after the robbery
The police have released a situation report in a statement issued by Ogun State police spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola
Oyekanmi was a chartered accountant and a former Assistant General Secretary of ICAN Abeokuta & District Society.
Odutola stated: “The Divisional Police Officer of Ibara Police Station led a team of policemen to the scene of crime that occurred at the overhead bridge in Kuto inward Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
“Following a report that suspected armed robbery attack took place on November 29, 2023. The incident involved a mini bullion van belonging to the office of the Director of Finance and Administration, Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan Abeokuta.
“The bullion van, registered under the number X Pilot 13, was transporting the Director of Finance, Taiwo Oyekanmi, along with the driver, Olalekan Akintoye, and Peter Samson. The van was carrying an unspecified amount of cash collected from Fidelity Bank and Sterling Bank in Abeokuta.
“It is worth noting that the bullion van was lacking security escort at the time of the incident.
“During the attack, the bullion van was dangerously intercepted on the Kuto Overhead Bridge by yet to be identified five armed men. These suspects were armed with AK-47 rifles and were traveling in an unregistered silver Toyota Corolla, and suddenly they trapped the Bullion van by double crossing it. The armed men first interrogated the driver to know if they had rifles in the vehicle and specifically inquired about the identity of the Director of Finance.
“In a display of anger, the armed men fired shots at the front door of the vehicle, where the director was seated.
“As a result of the attack, the Director of Finance sustained bullet wounds on his thigh and private part. He was rushed to the State Hospital, where he later gave up the ghost. The driver and other occupants of the robbery attack remain unharmed. At present, no arrests have been made; however, efforts are underway to apprehend the suspects who fled the scene.
“The incident is currently under investigation , by Ibara Police Station, and will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department for discreet investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun Mustapha is reassuring residents of Ogun State not to panic or fear as the situation is under control; operatives are working diligently to gather more information that will bring the perpetrators to justice.”
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