POS Operator Shot Dead by Armed Robbers in Gboko, Benue State

Armed robbers gun down POS operator in Gboko, Benue State as girlfriend weeps “They took my baby away forever”

A young Point-of-Sale (POS) operator identified as Raphael Luther Akpetomun has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers in Gboko, Benue State.

The tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening, March 8, 2026, at the victim’s shop where he operated his POS business. Sources in the area told NaijaChoice News that Akpetomun was busy attending to customers when the armed men suddenly stormed the location, opened fire on him and killed him on the spot before carting away an undisclosed amount of money.

The brutal attack has left the entire Gboko community in shock and mourning, with residents lamenting the growing insecurity targeting small business owners who handle cash daily. Eyewitnesses described the incident as happening so fast that no one could react, with one anonymous resident saying, “It happened so fast. We never imagined such violence here.”

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, POS operators across the country have increasingly become soft targets for armed robbers and bandits, with similar deadly incidents recorded in recent months in states like Edo and Niger where operators were shot dead while carrying out their daily transactions.

The girlfriend of the deceased, Anhwer Torkwase Dameriz, has been thrown into deep sorrow. Taking to her Facebook page, she poured out her heart with the painful words: “My heart has been ripped off my chest oooo!!! Lord you let them tear me into shreds! They took my baby away forever.” She accompanied the post with photos of herself and Raphael together, as well as a heartbreaking video of her weeping profusely while caressing his framed photograph.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the killing. Efforts to reach the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, proved unsuccessful. However, sources close to the investigation say probes have commenced even as locals continue to demand swift action from security agencies to track down the killers and bring them to justice.

The body of the late Raphael Luther Akpetomun has since been evacuated from the scene. Family members and friends are said to be making arrangements for his burial while the community remains gripped with fear over the safety of other POS operators and small-scale business owners in the area.