Gunmen kill Ogun Finance director, cart away money in bullion van

 

 

Ogun State secretariat was thrown into deep mourning on Wednesday following the murder of the Director of Finance and Accounts attached to the Governor’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, by gunmen.

The gunmen, it was gathered, trailed Oyekanmi to the top of NNPC bridge along Oke-Mosan road overlooking Noun University, Abeokuta Centre while returning from bank within the Abeokuta Central Business District (ACBD) Okelewo where he had gone to make withdrawals. 

He was rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Two top civil servants at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, who spoke with newsmen under the condition of anonymity, said the incident has thrown the Secretariat into mourning mood.

Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Alamutu, said police were on the trail of the hoodlums.

Alamutu said: “This afternoon, the accountant, the Director of Finance  and one other person left for Fidelity Bank to make some withdrawal. They went with a 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 NNPC 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 the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he eventually gave up the ghost.

“For our investigation, I have directed the Area Commander to get in touch with the bank and request for the CCTV footage which will give us insight into the vehicle in question and possibly 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 hood.”

Governor Dapo Abiodun commiserated with the family of Oyekanmi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Lekan Adeniran.

Abiodun described the incident as a rude shock, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director for them to have the necessary fortitude to bear the great loss.

“I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving news of the cold-blooded murder of Oyekanmi, in the hands of criminal elements and enemies of our State.

“It is indeed a colossal loss for our administration to have lost such dedicated, truthful, and diligent official; his assailants have murdered sleep and will be flushed out immediately from wherever they might be hiding.

“I have directed all security agencies in the State to smoke the criminals out instantly and make them to face the full wrath of the law. I therefore want to assure the entire workforce and residents in the state that never will such calamity befall our dear state again.

“I pray for the repose of his soul and for God’s protection over the family he left behind. Obviously, he is going to be sorely missed by his colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death,” the statement read.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, on Wednesday evening, led a government delegation to the deceased house to commiserate with his family.