GUNMEN suspected to be on a kidnapping mission shook the peace in Illeh-Ekpoma, in Edo State on Wednesday when they attacked Patrick Ahkimien, a member of the incumbent Action Congress Party in the mid-western state.
A younger brother to Mr. Akhimienwas killed during the attack, in which a police orderly and other people at the venue of the deadly incident sustained varying degrees of injury.
Akhimien who sustained gun shot injuries was rushed to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital also in the Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
Akhimien was part of a motorcade coming in from Uromi that included an unspecified Sports Utility Vehicle and a Toyota Sienna, when he was attacked at Mopo Junction in Ekpoma.
The unidentified gunmen opened fire on the SUV conveying the politician, killing his younger brother who was driving the car and the police orderly.
Akhimien’s wife and two other women who were in the back-up vehicle were subsequently abducted, and exited towards Auchi in their Toyota Camry and Audi 80 saloon cars.
The body of the younger Akhimien has been deposited at the morgue of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, while Akhimien is under medical care at the emergency ward of the hospital.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ekpoma Division, Mr Okpako Omuohowo, confirmed the incident, saying that investigation was in progress.