Posted by By Emma Amaize on
AN armed robber was shot dead in the early hours of yesterday by the police in Sapele, Delta State in a gun battle, while the other members of the gang, who could not match the firepower of the law enforcement agents, abandoned their booty and ran for their dear lives with bullet wounds.
SAPALE - AN armed robber was shot dead in the early hours of yesterday by the police in Sapele, Delta State in a gun battle, while the other members of the gang, who could not match the firepower of the law enforcement agents, abandoned their booty and ran for their dear lives with bullet wounds.
Divisional Police Officer (DPO), for the area, Superintendent of Police, Ita Selong, confirmed the shoot-out when contacted by Vanguard on phone, saying that the bandit gave up the ghost when he was rushed to the Central Hospital, Sapele.
It was learnt that the police received a distress call from a resident at Ireto Road, Sapele at about 12.30 am about a robbery operation in his compound and the DPO quickly mobilized his men to the place.
On sighting the police who stormed house in a jiffy, the robbers who were already dispossessing their victims of handsets, cash and other items, opened fire on the men and they responded, gunning down one of them, while others escaped with bullet wounds.
A locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, three expended and three live cartridges and GSM handsets were recovered by the police when they conducted a search on the scene.
The robbers who sustained injuries bolted away abandoning their loot when it dawned on them that the police would win the battle.
DPO Selong urged medical personnel and residents in the town to report any person with bullet wounds to the nearest Police Station for appropriate action, saying that the police were combing all known hideouts for the fleeing gangsters.
He also said that the police have intensified foot patrol in the town to sustain the prevailing peace in Sapele local government and sued for the cooperation of the people.