FROM TONY OSAUZO, BENIN
A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akoko- Edo Local Government Area, Edo State, Captain Samson Amineshi (retd), has been shot dead by unknown gunmen.
The shooting reportedly took place Thursday evening along the Igarra-Okpe road.
There are however two accounts of how the incident occurred. One account said, Captain Amineshi had attended a social function in Igarra and was driving back home to Okpe in his car with two other occupants when he was shot.
He was said to have dodged the gunmen who reportedly flagged him down and sped off not knowing another was metres away.
The deceased was said to have requested the other occupants of the car to dock inside the vehicle when suddenly the second group of gunmen reportedly appeared and fired directly at him.
He was said to have died on the spot while unknown amount of money was reportedly collected from the occupants of the car.
But another version of the incident said it was a suspected assassination, as the gunmen were said to have shot directly at Captain Amineshi and sped off in a motorbike which they had parked nearby.
The deceased, a former councillor in the council, was believed to be preparing for council election soon to be conducted in the state.
Family sources said the matter has been reported at the Igarra police station.
Spokesman for Edo State Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei could not be reached yesterday for confirmation, as several calls put to his mobile phone were unsuccessful.