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Tragedy struck yesterday evening at Auchi, Edo State, when some gunmen carried out a sudden attack on the home of Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministry, killing two of his drivers, three policemen and one female house help. Another house help is reportedly missing.

The attack was reportedly carried out at about 5pm by yet unknown hoodlums, according to the spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Chidi Nwabuzor.

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Said he: “The attack on Johnson Suleman was actually true, confirmed. He was attacked by hoodlums yet unknown at about 5 pm. He was attacked at home.

“As we speak, two of his drivers were murdered, three policemen murdered, one female house help 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 told Saturday Sun last night.

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He said investigation was ongoing and declined to give further details.

Another report said seven persons made up of three policemen and four domestic staff of Apostle Johnson Suleman were killed near Auchi at the Water Tank Junction along the Warake -Auchi Road on his way to Auchi, while returning from a foreign mission trip.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen who were in a Toyota Avalon Car and an ash coloured Sienna vehicle without number plates, opened fire at the homecoming convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleman in what looked like an assassination attempt.

The witnesses said the two vehicles blocked all other vehicles and maneouvered their way to meet Suleman’s convoy and opened fire on him.

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His children who were said to normally travel in a separate vehicle, joined their father in his car with his wife and the vehicle was targeted after Suleman’s vehicle which was leading the convoy escaped the suspected assassins.

The legal adviser to the Ministry, Sam Amune while confirming the incident said “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 unfold.

“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.

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“It is very unfortunate to lose those lives” Amune said.

(Sun)