Tragedy struck in Benin on Wednesday at a funeral when a trigger-happy member of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) accidentally shot his colleague to death.
The victim, identified as Cyril Igiebor, 28, was said to have recently bought a flight ticket to travel to the United Kingdom after he successfully secured a five-year UK work Visa.
The incident reportedly happened at 5 Eheneden Lane, off Ehenede Street, off Ekehuan Road, Uzebu Quarters, Benin City.
According to reports, the victim was among a team of armed vigilante members present during a Service of Songs organized for a woman (name withheld) at her residence.
It was gathered that the bullets from the gun hits the victim’s arms and chest prompting his being rushed to a nearby private hospital.
The hospital was alleged to have demanded a police report before giving him the needed lifesaving medical attention.
He, however, died few hours after being taken to a government owned hospital at the city centre
A visit to venue of the funeral shortly after the shooting, a middle-aged man who identified himself as the eldest son of the deceased woman (name withheld) and one Ituoyor said such incident did not happen there.
Meanwhile, findings revealed that on arrival, the vigilant team allegedly engaged in sporadic shooting ostensibly to announce their presence and warm the atmosphere which they claimed was too cold for their liking.
Speaking, the deceased’s elder brother, Mr. Sunny Igiebor while weeping over the killing of his younger brother, stated that he paid for a flight ticket three days ago for the deceased to travel out of the country after he successfully secured five years UK work Visa.
It would be recalled that three members of the Edo State Security Network were gunned down in an ambush at Okhunmwun Community in Ovia North-East local government area, September 21.