Robbers kill Kwara driver, wound couple
From Abiodun Fagbemi, Ilorin
ADRIVER with the Kwara State Ministry of Education, Mr. Fatai Yusuf, was last weekend killed by robbers.
The state Police Command confirmed the death of Yusuf in a robbery incident at Keke, a sleepy settlement along Ilorin-Omu-Aran Road on Monday.
The acting spokesman of the command, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, also disclosed that a couple were equally attacked by the robbers. They are at the intensive care unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), receiving treatment from gunshot wounds.
Several robbery cases have occurred on the Ilorin-Omu-Aran Road in the last five months.
In one of the incidents, the hoodlums attacked a bullion van belonging to a first generation bank and carted away money put at N70 million.
The late Yusuf was said to be returning from Abuja at about 12.28 p.m. where two of the directors of the ministry and two school principals had gone for an emergency meeting.
The ministry's Information Officer, Mr. Stephen Olufemi, said yesterday that the emergency meeting centred on a seminar on the improvement of quality of education in the country.
Olufemi added that when the driver of the 504 Station Wagon got wind of the robbery, he made a quick detour, which allegedly infuriated the gang, most of who had taken positions in the near-by bush.
His words: "In the process, the bullet hit the driver on the head, forcing the vehicle to a halt while the robbers had a field day, dispossessing the occupants of their valuable items".
The Guardian learnt that the wounded couples who were in their car had run into the gang who riddled their vehicle with bullets when they attempted to escape".
A fierce gun battle reportedly ensued between the robbers and men of the state anti-robbery squad, who arrived at the scene.
The hoodlums were said to be dislodged by the policemen.
