The Commissioner of Police for Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, on Wednesday, night confirmed the kîlling of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance and Accounts attached to the office of Governor Dapo Abiodun at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Alamutu told The PUNCH that Oyekanmi was gúnned down while returning from the bank where he had taken a bullion van to withdraw some funds for the state.
The CP said the incident happened on the NNPC Bridge, near Kuto, Abeokuta.
He Oyekanmi was rushed to the state hospital, Ijaye, where he was pronounced deãd.
The police commissioner said, “This afternoon, the Director of Finance with a driver 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 (policeman) was permitted to travel to attend to some issues. So, 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, shót at the director and from their vehicle, they brought out a sledgehammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money.
“As of that time, there was no information because the police escort was not with the team; so, the robbers sped off.
“The driver claimed to have trailed them up to the Conference Hotel where he lost sight of them.
“The director that was shót was thereafter taken to Ijaye hospital where he eventually gave up the ghost.”
Alamutu said he had demanded the CCTV footage from the bank to aid police investigation.
“For our investigation, I have directed the area commander to get to the bank and request the CCTV footage which will give us an insight into the vehicle in question and the 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 wore hoods.”
Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, described the incident as a rude shock to him, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director.
“I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving news of the cold-bloōded múrder 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 a dedicated, truthful, and diligent official. His assailants have múrdered 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 críminals out instantly and make them 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 relatives, colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death.”