A suspected notorious armed robber, identified as Innocent Kokorifa, was gunned down by the police in Bayelsa State after his three-man gang engaged the police in a fierce gun duel.
It was learnt that Kokorifa, who was fatally wounded by the police during the exchange of fire, died a few hours after he was arrested and taken to the hospital.
The two other gang members were said to have escaped in the heat of the gun battle, abandoning their arms.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident.
Butswat said that policemen from the Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the command, had on August 17, 2016, acting on a tip-off, stormed an uncompleted building on Air Force Road, Okaka, Yenagoa, to arrest a three-man notorious armed robbery gang.
The spokesman said the suspected armed robbers, on seeing the police and in a frantic attempt to escape, fired at the police and the police returned fire injuring one of the suspects in the process.
Butswat stated, “The suspects on sighting the police and in a frantic bid to escape, fired at the Police. The police returned fire and one of the suspects sustained a bullet injury, while the others escaped.
“The fleeing suspects abandoned one locally-made single-barrell pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge and wraps of substances suspected to be cannabis.
“The wounded suspect was arrested and taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for treatment, but died a few hours later. The deceased suspect was later identified as one Innocent Kokorifa, male.”
He said efforts had been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects, adding that investigation was ongoing.
Credit: PUNCH
