From Ighomuaye Lucky
A 78-year-old father has revealed how he offered to be killed instead of his son, who was shot by gunmen in Benin City, Edo State, last Thursday.
According to Pa Daniel Irabor, his son, Samuel Irabor, 41, a bus driver was shot dead at 9, Eguavoen Lane, off Odeh Street, Upper Siluko Road, Ogida, Benin City, by two gunmen.
He disclosed that the gunmen met his son washing clothes behind the house and opened fire on him.
Irabor, a grandfather, said his son ran inside with the bullet wound and hid under his mother’s bed, but the gunmen dragged him out and shot him a second time.
Said he: “When I heard the first gunshot, I ran out of my palour. I saw blood stains in my passage; then a young man with a short gun ran into my passage. I stood in the door to my wife’s room.
“I begged the gunman to kill me and leave my son. He pushed me away from the door, dragged out Samuel, who was bleeding, and shot him again.
“Then, another boy with a gun entered. He asked his colleague if he was sure my son was dead.”
Pa Irabor said his son had quarrelled with one young man (names withheld) at Ring Road, about two months ago.
Spokesman for the Edo State Police Command, DSP Moses Nkombe, confirmed the killing.
He said it was a cult-related murder and called for information that would assist in tracking down the perpetrators.