By: Emmanuel Nlewedum
Three suspected armed robbers were Sunday killed by men of the Rivers Police Command during an attempt to kidnap and rob occupants of an eighteen sitter Toyota Hiace bus along Okehi/Igbodo express road in Etche Local Government Area of the state.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni in a statement issued in Port Harcourt said the hoodlums engaged men of the Anti-Robbery Squad attached to the Okehi Police Division in a shout-out while responding to a distress call.
Omoni said the timely response of the police also led to the release of the nine passengers on board the vehicle as they continued their journey unhurt.
Disclosing that a manhunt has been launched to trap fleeing members of the gang, the command’s imagemaker said weapons recovered at the scene included, one locally made single barrel gun and rounds of live cartridges.
“The Anti-Robbery Squad of the Okehi Division led by the DPO responded to a distress call at Okehi/Igbodo Express Road, where Armed robbers were attacking passengers and dispossessing them of their belongings.
“On sighting Police at the scene, the robbers engaged them in a fierce gun duel and in a return fire, three of them sustained fatal wounds which resulted in serious bleeding and died before they could receive medical attention, while others escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.
“The CP has launched serious manhunt for other Members of the gang, while appealing to the public to report anybody with gunshot wounds to the nearest Police”.
