A soldier lost his life on Wednesday when armed gunmen attacked a Army patrol van in Edo State, while carting away cash loaded sacks.
The robbers struck at the traffic lights along Akpakpava Road by First Junction around 2.10 pm, with three soldiers in the military vehicle that was heading towards Ikpoba Hill.
It was gathered that the armed men drove an unmarked Toyota Camry car against the traffic, and they faced the military vehicle.
Two of the four occupants of the vehicle alighted and opened fire on the soldiers.
The three soldiers took to their heels even as they abandoned their patrol vehicle and the money sacks.
An eyewitnesses in the area said the armed men took the bags from the patrol van after the soldiers had fled.
A shop owner in the area while narrating the incident said:
“One of the three soldiers fell while running away, he tried to get up, but he couldn’t, he was bleeding. Later, his two other colleagues came to meet him but they were helpless.”
The Edo State Police Command while confirming the incident said:
“A good Nigerian reported the incident at the police station covering that neighbourhood. The hoodlums carted away bags believed to have been loaded with cash kept inside the Army van.”
