The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday said its officials killed one armed robber while he was on a raid on Mandela Hostel, Gabriel Street, Ihumudumu, Ekpoma with his gang members.
This was contained in a statement by the state command Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Jennifer Iwegbu, who said the police were also searching for four other gang members, who escaped with gunshot wounds.
The statement read, “In its continuous determination to tackle violent crimes, the Edo State Police Command has neutralised one armed robber In Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.
“On Monday, August 15, 2022 at about 03:30hrs, five armed robbers while invading one Mandela Hostel, at Gabriel Street, Ihumudumu, Ekpoma were intercepted by men of the command attached to Ekpoma Divisional headquarters following a distress call.
“Upon receipt of the information, the officials immediately mobilised in collaboration with the vigilante men and moved into action. On sighting the team of the police, the robbers opened fire on the police which led to a gun duel. With the superior firepower of the police, the robbers scampered for safety with various degrees of bullet injuries.
“However, one of the hoodlums, who was later identified as Emmanuel Johnson, about 24 years, was neutralised during the gun duel, while effort is ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.
“Recovered from the gang are one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun, five live cartridges, four expended cartridges and one laptop,” she added.
The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, urged members of the public to continue to provide the police with useful and credible information on criminal activities across the state, while assuring citizens and visitors that the police would continue to do its best to ensure a crime-free state.
