THE Police in Kogi have shot dead two suspected armed robbers in a gun battle, after the robbers allegedly
robbed a filling station of an undisclosed amount of money.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Hilary Opara, told newsmen on Monday in Lokoja that two out of the four suspected robbers escaped with bullet wounds. He said that the suspects on July 7 at about 5:50 p.m. attacked and robbed the AP Filling Station in Ankpa.
The police boss said that the robbers were confronted by combat-ready policemen which forced them to leave the scene. Opara said that a shoot-out ensued which resulted in the death of two members of the gang while the other two escaped into the bush with bullet wounds.
He said that the area was being combed by the police with the assistance of the villagers. The commissioner said that items recovered from the suspects include, four AK-47 riffles, one Barretta pistol, six unexpended live ammunitions, nine magazines and six telephone handsets. Others are one national identity card, a green Golf car, marked Kogi KNA 56 XA, a white Honda Civic car marked Benue AG 601 BGT and N46,000 cash. Opara said that policemen on stop and search duty also arrested one Omotayo Ladipupo of Akoko Owo Market in Ondo State with a Toyota Camry car marked Lagos BQ 25 KSF in Okene. He said that lady’s sandals and a telephone were recovered from the vehicle.
“When the number was called, a voice responded that the vehicle was snatched by hoodlums in Ibadan on July 6,” he said. Opara said the suspect and the car were now in police custody, adding that the police had contacted the owner of the vehicle to come with proofs.
The police boss urged members of the public to be involved in policing the society. “We are committed to ensuring peace but we need information from members of the public to function,” he said