Edo lawmaker shot

 by James Azania

A member of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Etsako West I, Rasaq Momoh, was on Thursday night shot by yet-to-be identified gunmen in the state capital, Benin.

Momoh, who is the House Committee Chairman on Finance, was reportedly shot on Akenzua Road, around 9.30 pm while on a visit.

The lawmaker was taken to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he is currently being treated.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Uyi Igbe, and state Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun, confirmed the shooting in different telephone interviews.

Igbe said he was informed about the incident and that the lawmaker was in a stable condition.

Balogun, however, said he was yet to get the full details of the incident.

The lawmaker, who reportedly drove himself, was said to be without his orderly and was accosted by one of the gunmen, who ordered him to lie on the ground.

Momoh was said to have refused the order and was consequently shot in the abdomen, after which his assailants fled the scene.

The Punch