A suspected armed robber on the wanted list of Delta State Police Command for his alleged involvement in numerous attacks on police personnel, and killing of innocent persons, has been shot dead in a gun duel with operatives.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspect, identified simply as Japhet, met his Waterloo on Tuesday following his gang’s gun attack on a police patrol team.
It was gathered that at about 10:35 am, the operatives attached to Rapid Response Squad, while on surveillance patrol along 74, Anwai-Illah road, Oshimili South Local Government Area, were attacked by some armed hoodlums.
The operatives quickly took cover and engaged the marauders in a severe gun battle, forcing the gangsters to retreat.
However, in the gun duel, one of the suspects, later identified as Japhet, who has been on the Command’s wanted list for involvement in numerous attacks on police personnel, and killing of innocent persons sustained gunshot injuries.
He was taken to the hospital, where he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, affirmed that one locally fabricated Beretta pistol with two 9mm live ammunition and one Qlink motorcycle with reg no. WKP 270 QW abandoned by the other gang members were recovered from the scene.
The PPRO noted that the manhunt for the fleeing gang members is ongoing.
In another development, at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, a distress call was received from Dominion Hotel & Suites in Umunede that a man was threatening their customers with a gun and sending them away, thereby constituting nuisance and disturbing the public peace within the vicinity.
Consequently, the patrol team attached to Umunede Division was deployed to the scene where the suspect upon sighting the police took to his heels.
He was chased, and the suspect named Precious Azuka was arrested while one locally made cut-to-size gun was recovered from him.
