The Police in Anambra has said that two armed robbery suspects were killed during an exchange of gun fire with its operatives while no fewer than four other criminal suspects were arrested.
This is contained in a statement issued to journalists in Awka on Monday by ASP Toochukwu Ikenga, the Police Command’s Public Relations Officer in Anambra.
Ikenga said the deceased were identified as Chinedu Okeri and Chukwuebuka Orizu, both members of a three-man gang, while one of them, Abuchi Osim, was arrested alive.
He said that pistols and live ammunition were also recovered from the suspected criminals.
The police spokesman said the suspects engaged the police in a gun duel when they confronted them while trying to rob a commercial bus around Idemili flyover, Onitsha-Owerri Road on Dec. 5.
“The hoodlums who were about to rob passengers travelling in a Toyota Sienna van opened fire on sighting the police.
“Operatives responded swiftly gunning down two of the armed suspects while the third suspect was arrested.
“Police recovered two locally made pistols, five cartridges and the tricycle that brought the gangsters to the scene of crime,” he said.
Ikenga said a follow up operation led to the arrest of three other suspects in their hideout in Atani Ogbaru Local Government Area.
He gave the names of the suspects as Chinedu Ogunna, 21, Arinze Chukwu, 16, and Ebuka Ayazie, 18, all of whom confessed to be members of a cult group and robbery gang.
The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Echeng Echeng had upgraded the policing strategy of the command which had enhanced its capacity to respond to any emergency and security challenge.
He said that the police would not relent in safeguarding lives and properties and assured the people in the state of the commitment of the command to ensure that residents enjoyed a hitch free Yuletide.
