On Friday, a brazen attack by armed robbers left a road safety officer, known as Abu, severely injured in Lokoja, Kogi State. The incident occurred as Abu was returning from a bank and heading towards his home in the Zango area. Tragically, Abu was relieved of an unspecified sum of money by the robbers, who fired multiple shots at him.
According to an eyewitness, the armed assailants had been following Abu, who was on a motorcycle, from the bank. They trailed him to Lokongoma Phase One, right in front of the bustling Lokongoma market. It was there that the robbers blocked Abu’s path, leading to a violent confrontation over the money he was carrying. During the struggle, Abu was shot three times, sustaining injuries to both legs and his shoulder.
The state police command confirmed the robbery and revealed that N139,000 was recovered from the scene. Abu was promptly rushed to the hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment. The police public relations officer, SP William Aya, detailed the events, stating, “At exactly 1:30 pm, officers received a distress call and rushed to the scene at Lokongoma, Phase One in Lokoja. They found Abu, a road safety officer, in a pool of blood, having been shot in both legs and shoulder. He was coming from the bank when a Toyota Camry, ash in color, accosted him and blocked his path right in front of Lokongoma market, Phase One in Lokoja, and he was dispossessed of an unspecified sum of money.”
Aya further mentioned that the sum of N139,000 was recovered at the scene while the victim was taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention. In response to the incident, the police commissioner, Bertrand Onuoha, has deployed additional officers to the area to ensure the safety of residents and to track down the armed robbers responsible for this heinous act.
This shocking event has left the community in a state of alarm, highlighting the increasing security challenges faced by residents. The swift response by the police and the recovery of some of the stolen money is commendable, but it underscores the need for heightened security measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The authorities are actively working to apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, ensuring that such a disturbing event does not reoccur.
