One Killed During Gun Battle Between Police And Armed Robbers In Enugu State

Police And Armed Robbers In Cross Fire In Enugu State

The anti-robbery operatives of Enugu State Police Command have dislodged a gang of suspected armed robbers, killing one while others sustained injuries from gunshots and fled.

The command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, who made the disclosure on Thursday said the gang was in the habit of blocking 9th Mile-Udi-Oji River-Awka Road with big stones and woods while robbing motorists.

According to Amaraizu, the operatives confronted the armed robbers on the road at 3 a.m. at Agungwu, Ugwuoba in Oji River axis of the major road.

He said that the feat was achieved by the operatives of the Oji River Division of the command.

“It was, however, gathered that the suspected armed robbers had already formed the said roadblock when through intelligence information, the police operatives swooped on them.

“In the ensuing gun encounter between the police operatives and the armed robbers, one of the armed robbery kingpins (names withheld) from Ebonyi was hit by police bullet which left him fatally injured and was later confirmed dead on arrival at a nearby hospital by a doctor.

“Other members of his gang believed to also have been touched by police operatives’ bullets escaped into the bush,’’ the spokesman said in a statement.

Amaraizu said that a manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang had been intensified, while a full-scale investigation had commenced into the incident.

“The command advises members of the public, especially hospital owners and doctors to watch out and report anyone that will approach their medical facilities with a wound suspected to be that of bullet wound for necessary action.

“Police operatives are now conducting a search for the fleeing members of the gang everywhere within Oji River and its environs,’’ the spokesman added.