A suspected armed robber, identified as Christopher, died of gunshot injuries on March 1, 2022, after his gang exchanged gunfire with police operatives in Delta State Command in a bid to escape from an operation.
Making this known in on Friday, March 4, the state command’s spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe said that armed robbery gang was intercepted by the police patrol team attached to ‘B’ Division, Warri while on routine patrol along Okere market junction Warri, at about 11am.
The robbery gang members, about four of them, were said to have been operating with a mini bus with registration number Delta DSZ 912 XA and, on sighting the police team, started shooting at the operatives and zoomed off to escape arrest.
However, the PPRO stated, The patrol team chased the hoodlums to Makaiva market while exchanging gun fire with them but had to cease firing when they got to the market due to the crowd.
“The hoodlums alighted from the vehicle and ran into the crowd but one of the suspects was arrested with gunshot injuries he sustained during the gun duel.
“The suspect named Christopher (surname unknown) confessed being a member of the armed robbery gang that robbed a Point of Sale (POS) business lady at Osubi-Orerokpe earlier in the day.
“Suspect was taken to General Hospital, Warri where he died while receiving treatment. The mini bus, one expended cartridge, two POS machines, two female bags containing two Zenith bank ATM cards, one driver’s licence bearing Ogagbe Godspower, one power bank and a bible were recovered.
“Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” Edafe said.
Also on March 2, at about 10:24am, the police operatives acting on intelligence gathered that one Richard Tobi of Obibo Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, known to be involved in snatching vehicles, was around Warri.
The information led to operatives of ‘A’ Division, Warri, being sent to trail and arrest him.
“Consequently, upon technical intelligence-led investigation, the suspect was trailed to Mammy Market, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area where he was arrested and different vehicle plate numbers were instantly recovered from him.
“Upon further investigation, the suspect led operatives to his base where one Toyota Hilux with registration number UYY 210 GT, suspected to have been stolen in Akwa Ibom, was recovered. Suspect has been charged to court and remanded in prison custody,” the PPRO disclosed.
The PPRO added that operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad on Aberdeen system of patrol along Asaba-Benin expressway, intercepted a white colour Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number AGB 439 XT conveying passengers from Benin to Onitsha on March 1.
He said: “The passengers were subjected to search during which one locally made pistol, one expended cartridge, a complete military camouflage uniform, one Samsung S8 mobile phone, some substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one army colour wrist watch, two other wrist watches and clothes were recovered from a male passenger named Billy Saul, aged 30, of 12, Ekae Street, off Sapele Road, Benin City, a native of Akunza in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,” stating further that investigation was ongoing.
Similarly, on March 3, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Isiokolo Division led a combined team of police operatives/vigilante members and raided a suspected kidnapper’s den in Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area and recovered a locally-made cut-to-size gun and six live cartridges.
Edafe said that efforts were being made to arrest the suspects.
