Robbers kill 2 luxury bus drivers in Edo

By Samuel Oyadongha
BENIN—BARELY 24 four hours after dare-devil armed robbers allegedly killed three police officers along the Benin-Lagos highway, the robbers struck again yesterday, killing two luxury bus drivers.

It will be recalled that three police vehicles were burnt at the same spot, where the three policemen were said to have lost their lives,  Wednesday. The two attacks occurred at the same spot between the Ogbemudia Farms and Okada Junction.

This is coming as the kidnappers, who abducted a doctor attached to the Benin Central hospital, Dr Osaro Osifo, on Monday, freed him, after the family was said to have coughed out over N500,000.

Worried by the situation, Vanguard learnt that the state Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole,  yesterday summoned the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kachi Udeoji and other security chiefs in the state for an urgent meeting.

Vanguard learnt that the two drivers, who were killed by the robbers were coming from Lagos to the East at about 3am. It was said that the robbers opened fire on them when they tried to escape from the robbers.

Efforts to speak to the Police proved abortive,  as Vanguard was told that all the officers were at a meeting, brainstorming on how to tackle the upsurge in robbery attacks  in the state.

Vanguard learnt that the robbery gang operate with  sophisticated weapons.

On the release of the medical doctor yesterday, a family source who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard that they were disappointed with the way the police handled the case, adding that they had expected the police to arrest the kidnappers when they went to drop the ransom somewhere along Sapele Road, but that they dropped it without any action from the police.

“We were surprised when they (Police) came to tell us that they didn’t know when the kidnappers came and picked the money. We felt very bad about it. If we had gone on our own without informing them, they will say they were not told”.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele confirmed the release but refuse to give details.