Gunmen on Thursday evening blocked the Benin-Auchi highway and killed a police escort attached to the just inaugurated 13-man Caretaker Committee of the state Butchers Union in Edo state.
The 13-man Committee was inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the State Butchers Union by Governor Godwin Obaseki to put an end to the protracted crisis that had rocked the union.
The slain policeman was simply identified as Sergeant Jubril.
The gunme also killed the Vice Chairman of the butchers’ committee, Comrade Nathaniel Iyamu.
They were said to have been attacked when their convoy ran into a robbery operation while returning from Afuze in Owan East local government where the local branch of the union was inaugurated.
An eyewitness said the armed men abducted some motorists while shooting sporadically.
The incident occurred near Obadan village along the Benin-Auchi highway.
It was gathered that the police escort had shot into the air to apparently scare the gunmen away.
The witness said the late police escort ran into the bush alongside others when he was gunned down.
According to the witness, “The criminal operation lasted for over an hour causing heavy traffic gridlock. Many passengers ran for safety.
“Some passengers were also robbed of uncountable valuables while some were taken to unknown destination on eye witness account.”
A member of the committee who pleaded anonymity said the lifeless body of the police was recovered at about 10 pm.
Edo Police Command spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident saying the police are investigating the incident.
