How Ogun Governor’s Office Accountant Ambushed After Collecting Cash From Two Banks, Killed, Money Carted Away — Police

Suspected armed robbers on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, shot dead an Accountant of the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Oyekanmi, and escaped with the money he just withdrawn from a bank.

Taiwo Oyekanmi was the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Governor’s Office.

Oyekanmi had picked up an undisclosed amount of money from two banks in the capital city.

After leaving the bank, a branch of Fidelity Bank in Abeokuta, heading back to the office, he was stopped by the gunmen.

It was gathered that the gunmen, about five, shot the accountant dead under the Kuto bridge and made away with the money in his possession.

It was gathered that Oyekanmi and his other assistants, who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, were then rushed to the State General Hospital in Ijaiye, where the Accountant later died.

NAN reports that the Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, has already visited the late accountant’s residence to commiserate with the family.

The Commissioner, Ogun State Police Command, CP Abiodun Alamutu, said the Accountant was with a driver and one other person and they were with a home-made bullion van.

Alamutu said: “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 report, 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 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 near Conference Hotel where he lost contact with them.”

Alamutu said further that he had directed the Area Commander to get to the bank and request for the CCTV footage, which would give the police an insight into the vehicle in question.

He added: “There is a 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 hood.”

A further statement by the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, detailed the incident.

Odutola, a Superintendent of Police, said: “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 of 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 Oyenekan, 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 if they have 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 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 State Criminal Investigation 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.”