Robbers shoot army officer in Ibadan

The M.K.O. Abiola Way, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State was thrown into confusion on Sunday evening when gunshots rent the air as armed robbers attacked and shot a man, later identified as a Lieutenant Colonel (names withheld), in an attempt to snatch his car.

An eyewitness who spoke with Metro said that the incident occurred close to a popular pizza place on the road.

The victim was reportedly shot in the stomach and leg.

But Metro learnt that the armed robbers could not go with his vehicle and were said to have escaped when they heard the siren of approaching police vans.

Passersby and customers at an eatery around the place were said to have gone in different directions to escape being hit by stray bullets when the armed robbers’ shots rang.

The army officer was said to have been rushed to the University College Hospital Ibadan for medical attention where he underwent surgery.

When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, saying that the victim was still on admission but had stabilised.

According to him, “the Command’s incident duty officer was on his way to a routine visit to a nearby police station when he was alerted by the armed robbers’ shots.

“The officer went towards the direction but the victim had been shot. They must have fled when they sensed that the police were close by and so, they were not able to get away with the car they wanted to snatch,” Ajisebutu said.

He further stated that the victim was first rushed to Ibadan Central Hospital, Ososami Street, Ibadan, where he was initially treated before he was taken to the UCH.

The PPRO added that the Commissioner of Police, Sam Adegbuyi, had directed the Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and intelligence officers to comb the city and make sure the hoodlums were arrested.

Also, Colonel Timothy Antigha, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department of the 2 Division of the Nigerian Army where the shot victim works, confirmed the incident.

He said that the armed robbers must have been on the trail of the army officer before they blocked him at a point on the road.

“As they attacked him, he fought them off and when they saw that they could not succeed in their bid easily, they shot him. But he is recuperating in a hospital,” Colonel Antigha said.