The police command in Edo says the driver of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abdul-Hamid Egele, has died.

On Tuesday night, the command’s spokesman Kontongs Bello confirmed the death in Benin.

The deceased, whose identity could not be ascertained, was driving Mr Egele’s backup car when the gunmen abducted the IPMAN chairman.

On Monday evening, Mr Egele was abducted in his Jattu home when his assailants intercepted his motorcade, killing his driver on the spot.

The hoodlums also shot and wounded the second driver and security operative attached to him.

Mr Bello disclosed that the second driver died from gunshot wounds.

He added that Mr Egele’s abductors had yet to contact his family, adding that the command had begun a rescue operation.

“I got the news that the driver of the second vehicle, who was severely injured in the attack, is dead. The chairman’s family has yet to be contacted, and we hope that the bush-combing exercise will lead to the rescue of the victim and arrest of his abductors,” Mr Bello explained.

According to a witness, the IPMAN chair, popularly called Baba Petrol, was abducted at about 7:00 p.m. on his way home.

“The gunmen, who drove in two unmarked vehicles, ambushed him near his house and fired at his jeep. He was taken away by the gunmen after they overpowered and injured his security,’’ stated the witness.

(NAN)