Blessing Okorite, Port Harcourt
Operatives of the anti-robbery team of the Sani Abacha Police Station, in Rivers State, have killed one suspects involved in a failed car-snatching attempt, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Nigerian Xpress learnt that the three-man gang, which snatched a Lexus SUV from a female resident of Port Harcourt at gun point, on Sunday, met their waterloo while trying to escape with the car and the lady’s belongings enroute Tombia axis of GRA phase II.
It was gathered that the police patrol team on stop-and-search operation in the area, on sighting their suspects’ moves, gave them a hot chase.
Sources from the scene of incident disclosed that the police overpowered the robbery gang which opened fire to scare the law enforcement agents and passersby, adding that one suspect, who sustained serious gun injury, died instantly, while one arrested and another escaped with bullet wound.
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The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, narrated that, “Today June 9, 2019 at about 11:30a.m, the Anti-Robbery Patrol Team of the Sani Abacha Police Station, led by ASP Innocent Ikeh, while on stop and search at Tombia Extension, near Market Square, GRA Phase II, had an encounter with a gang of armed robbers, who had earlier snatched a Lexus Jeep 330 with Reg No: Lagos KRD 817AW from the owner, one Mrs. Jennifer Suberu, who was forced out of the car at gun point with other belongings, including her phone and cash.
“The robbers ran into the Police stop and search point and on sighting the Police, beat a fast retreat but were giving a hot chase which led to exchange of gun fire.
“They were however overpowered and in cause of the gun duel, one of them was fatally wounded, another was arrested alive and the third robber escaped with life threatening gunshot wounds.”
Omoni, who stated that the snatched vehicle had been recovered with the arrested suspect making useful confession to aid further investigation, assured that the command would leave no stone unturned the get the state rid of all criminal activities.
He continued, “The snatched vehicle has been recovered and taken to the Station, the victim has identified the two robbers as those who attacked her and collected her vehicle.
“Meanwhile the suspect is making useful confessions and efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing gang member, who escaped with their operational weapon.
“The battle against armed banditry in the State is still raging, and the Command will stop at nothing, in seeing that they are smoked out and dealt with according to Law. There will not be a hiding place for criminals in the state”, Omoni added.
