Police kill robbery suspect in gun battle in Edo

Operatives of the Edo State police command on Monday killed an armed robbery suspect in a gun battle during a robbery operation in the state.

It was gathered that the incident happened on August 15, at Ekpoma in Esan West LGA of the state.

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It was learnt that the armed robbers had gone to rob at a hotel in the area when they encountered the police during the operation.

The command’s spokesman, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who confirmed the incident, said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the vigilante.

“On August 15, the police received a distress call that some armed robbers numbering five invaded one Mandela Hotel, at Gabriel Street, Ihumudumu, Ekpoma and mobilised to the area in collaboration with the vigilante group.”

He said the robbers on sighting the team of operatives and vigilante opened fire on them which led to a gun duel.

He said the robbers could not withstand the superior fire power of the police and so fled with bullet injuries.

“One of the hoodlums who, was later identified as Emmanuel Johnson, 24, was neutralized during the gun duel. Frantic effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang,” he said.

He said one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, five live cartridges, four expended cartridges and a laptop were recovered from them.

Nwanbuzor urged members of the public to continue to provide the police with useful and credible information on criminal activities across the state, as the police are ready to combat criminality in the state.