Assassins kill Edo Businessman

PHOTO: NIGERIAN POLICE INSPECTOR GENERAL, OGBONNAYA ONOVO.

BENIN - Precarious security situation in Edo State peaked on Sunday with the killing of a popular businessman, Dr. Charles Ndulue in Benin, the state capital. His only daughter and a maid were also seriously injured in the attack.

According to eyewitnesses, the suspected assassins, operating in an Audi 80 car, swooped on the unsuspecting Ndulue, who was until his death a major distributor of products for Nigerian companies and other occupants of his light green Mercedes Benz C-Class with registration number DJ 942 BEN.

They were believed to have trailed him from the busy Ring Road to the junction leading to the Government House, not far from the State Police Command Headquarters and a police station.

The deceased, in his 50s was with his daughter and a maid when the gunmen sprayed his car with bullets at about 10.45a.m. on Sapele Road.

Not caring about the safety of commercial motorcyclists close to the hospital gate, the bandits opened fire on the occupants of the vehicle from the rear.

The attack lasted for just about two minutes, but it forced the moving car to veer off the road and skid into a nearby ditch close to the Benin Prisons. They also reportedly shot into the air apparently to clear the busy route as they pursued their target, sending commercial motorcyclists and pedestrians to flee in different directions.

After accomplishing their mission, the bandits removed the deceased’s gold trinkets and mobile phone, making those who witnessed the attack believe it was an armed robbery incident.

Sympathizers and those returning from the early morning church service helped rush the victims to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention.

THEWILL further gathered that the injured maid and the deceased’s daughter were moved out of the hospital 'for security reasons.'

Meanwhile, it was also gathered that bandits dressed in military uniforms, numbering about 30 at 9.24a.m. last week, attacked passengers on the Benin-Lagos Expressway at the Ogbemudia Farms, near Ekiadolor College of Education, leaving several persons with serious gunshot wounds.

Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Peter Ogboi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), for comments proved abortive as at press time.

The remains of the deceased have since been deposited at the Central Hospital morgue.