UCH confirms death of ex-Senator Arise’s aide

He was shot by armed robbers.

The management of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan on Thursday confirmed the death of Nasir Saliu, driver to Ayo Arise, a former Senator and governorship aspirant in Ekiti State.

Mr. Saliu and his cousin, Moshood, were attacked in Ibadan on Wednesday by men suspected to be armed robbers.

The duo drove to the Oyo State capital from Ado Ekiti to buy a fairly-used car.

They were said to have been trailed by some hoodlums to a branch of the Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, where they withdrew an undisclosed sum of money. The thieves thereafter shot them and made away with the sum of N650, 000 with which they wanted to buy the vehicle.

While confirming the death of the driver, the Public Relations Officer of UCH, Ayodeji Bobade, said the victims were brought to the emergency unit of the hospital on Wednesday.

“Nasir Saliu died but Moshood is still undergoing treatment,” Mr. Bobade said.

The former Senator expressed shock at the death of his aide.

“Nasir was like my own son. He had been my driver since 1999- 14 years ago. He left Abuja for Ado Ekiti on Tuesday so that he could pick me up at the Akure Airport on Friday. On Wednesday, he went to Ibadan to buy a car but was killed. I learnt he had N650, 000 on him. The law enforcement agencies should be alive to their responsibilities in this country,” Mr. Arise said, adding that the Oyo State Police Command had denied knowledge of the murder.

In reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanefor, said it was strange that the incident could go unnoticed.

“As far as the command is concerned, there is no report that his driver was attacked by armed robbers in Ibadan,” she said.