Imo: Suspected armed robber killed during gunfight with police

A suspected armed robber has been killed during a gunfight with the police at Sokotext Lodge, along Amaeze Road, by Federal Polytechnic Nekede back-gate, Owerri in Imo State.

The State Police spokesman, Henry Okoye, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Thursday said the incident occurred on April 18, 2023, at about 0430hrs, adding that other members of the armed robbery gang escaped.

Okoye said following a distress call received from the Command’s Emergency control room that robbery was ongoing, Operatives of Nekede Police Divisional Headquarters swiftly mobilized to the scene.

He said, “On sighting the police team, the hoodlums engaged them in a gun duel but were beaten back by the Police’s superior firepower, who engaged the thugs in a fierce gunfight that saw one member of the armed robbery syndicate neutralized and others flee to the nearby bush with varying degrees of bullet wounds.

“One locally made pistol, one machete, one mask, criminal charms, four laptops, three power banks, one iPhone, three pairs of canvass, two bags, garments and beverages, and a pair of palm slippers were found after a search of the area. The body was found and brought to the Federal Medical Center in Owerri.”

The PPRO said while this is going on, a covert investigation is being conducted, and efforts were stepped up to apprehend the evading suspects and bring them up against the full force of the law.

While praising the police officers for their valiant act, Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ahmed Barde assertively declared that the command will not give up on removing all criminally inclined individuals from the state.

He then charged the Command’s Operatives to sustain the tempo in stemming the tide of arm robbery in the State and beckons on the well-meaning residents of the State in particular Hospitals, Clinics, and other first aid outlets to report any person seen with or treating gunshot injury in their vicinity to the nearest Police Station or via the Command’s emergency lines 0803773600 or 08098880197.