By Emmanuel Nduka
The convoy of popular Nigerian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman was on Friday attacked by gunmen along the Benin Auchi Road in Edo State.
The assailants allegedly killed seven persons, including three policemen.
Apostle Suleman was reportedly on his way back from a foreign trip and was heading to a destination in Edo State when the gunmen attacked his convoy around the Auchi area of the state.
During the attack, the gunmen opened fire on Suleman’s convoy, allegedly killing three of his police orderlies and four yet-to-be-identified persons.
The cleric’s lawyer, Samuel Amune, who confirmed the attack to newsmen, said the cleric just returned from a program in Tanzania, adding that he escaped death by a whisker.
“He was returning from a journey and he had almost on the shores of Auchi when some assassins attacked him. Three of his police orderlies, among others died. He travelled before and just finished a program in Tanzania.
“He was returning to Auchi when the gunmen attacked him along Sabingida down to Warake area, and Auchi shares direct boundary with Warake. So, he had passed Warake and was entering the boundaries of Auchi when the attack happened,” he said.
The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chuidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the attack.
He said six persons including policemen and Suleman’s drivers were killed, adding that efforts were on to locate the whereabouts of a domestic staff.
He added that one of the assailants was gunned down during the attack.
