•••VICTIMS COMPRISE THREE POLICEMEN, TWO DRIVERS, AND A FEMALE STAFF
The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the death of three policemen and three civilians in a gunmen attack on the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleman of the Omega Fire Ministries on Friday evening,
The Clergyman was said to have returned from a programme in Tanzania and was just entering Auchi when his convoy came under gunmen assault at Warake Road.
The Network gathered that the clergyman narrowly escaped the scene of the violence in his bullet proof car.
It was further learnt that the the pastor’s family was in his sane vehicle with him when the incident occurred.
According to eyewitnesses account, the assailants laid an ambush for the convoy of Apostle Suleiman in unmarked Toyota Avalon Car and an ash coloured Sienna and opened fire at the unsuspecting convoy.
It was learnt that the the Gunmen targeted a vehicle that was always used to convey his children thinking that they were in the van.
A video of the grisly incident shows the lifeless bodies of four of victims on the floor while two were inside a white bus riddled with billet holes.
The legal adviser to the Ministry, Sam Amune who confirmed the incident described it as an assassination attempt on the clergyman,
“I think it is a case of assassination attempt because the assailants who were in an Avalon and Sienna vehicles stopped other vehicles to reach Apostle Suleman’s convoy and they did not take anybody, the people just stopped and watched the drama unfolded.
“He just finished a programme in Tanzania the day before yesterday and flew to Lagos and then to Benin where his family joined him. His children normally drive in a separate vehicle but this time they drove with their father while other domestic staff drove in their vehicle. He barely escaped death but the others were not lucky, three orderlies who normally drive directly behind him and then the next vehicle were not lucky.
“It is very unfortunate to lost those lives” Amune said.
The Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police said that the attack took place around 5pm.
Curiously the Police Spokesman said he was attacked at home.
The said that a police team mobilized to the area shot dead one of the hoodlums and recovered one of the vehicles used for the dastardly act.
“The attack on Johnson Suleman was actually true, confirmed.
“He was attacked by hoodlums yet unknown at about 5 pm (1700 hours ). He was attacked at home.
“As we speak, two of his drivers were murdered, three policemen murdered, one female househelp murdered, one missing.
“Upon alarm raised, police moved to the scene, gunned down one of hoodlums and recovered one of the vehicles used.
“Currently, Appostle Suleiman is safe and sound”, Nwabuzor said
