Police officer, driver killed as gunmen attack bullion van in Ondo

A police officer was shot dead on Wednesday, during an attack on a bullion van in Ore area of Ondo state.

The driver of the van was also killed in the incident.

The attack is said to have occurred on Wednesday evening in Costain axis of Ore, in Odigbo LGA of the state.

Funmilayo Odunlami, police spokesperson in Ondo, who confirmed the incident, said security agencies are on the trail of the attackers.

Narrating the incident, an eyewitness who spoke to NAN on the condition of anonymity, alleged that the gunmen escaped with money taken from the bullion van.

“The dare-devil armed robbers opened fire on the bullion van which was carrying an undisclosed amount of money and the police escort car,” the eyewitness said.

“The bullion van driver and a policeman were shot dead in the process, while the undisclosed amount of money in the bullion van was carted away by the gunmen after the attack.”

Speaking on the incident, the Ondo police spokesperson said investigation is ongoing, and urged residents with useful information to come forward.

“Yes, I can confirm to you that the driver of the bullion van and a police officer died in the attack, but the police have launched their investigation to trail the gunmen,” Odunlami said.

“We urge residents who have concrete information to come forward. We do not need them to drop their names  but give us useful information that will lead to the arrest of the gunmen.”

She added that the corpses of the victims have been deposited at an undisclosed morgue, while those that sustained injuries were given necessary treatment.

Meanwhile, this is the third attack on a bullion van in Ondo over the past four months.

In May, gunmen attacked a bullion van at Elemosho village, along Akure-Ondo expressway in Ondo east LGA of the state.

Also, an attack by gunmen on a bullion van conveying cash to Akure, the Ondo state capital, in July, resulted in three policemen sustaining injuries.