By Augustine Ehikioya
Moving against crimes Police officials in Delta State have arrested three teenage armed robbery suspects with age ranging from 14 to 19 years.
During crossfire with the Police, another one of the suspects was confirmed death when taking to the hospital.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP. Edafe Bright, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA), said that guns and other items were recovered from them.
It reads “On 29/9/2023, the DPO ‘B’ Division Warri received a distress call about an armed robbery operation at Giwamu Junction Warri, during the attack one Police undercover operative was at the scene who sighted one of the suspects and later trailed him to a Suya spot at Enerhen Junction.
“The DPO ‘B’ Warri, SP Bolarinwa Alabi acting on the directive of the Delta State, Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, embarked on an intelligence-led operation alongside his men and arrested one Gift Peace ‘m’ aged 14yrs at the said Suya spot at Enerhen junction.
“The teenager confessed to being a member of an armed robbery gang that terrorizes Warri and its environs; and that he has been in the act since he was seven (7) years old.
“He mentioned other members and thus took the detectives to their hideout. The gang members upon sighting the Police opened fire from their unregistered operational tricycle and due response was given to their hostility, and in the process, one of the suspects who was later identified as the leader of the gang sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped.
“He was taken to the hospital where he was eventually confirmed dead by the doctor.”
The statement went on “The exhibit recovered includes the following: the operational tricycle of the gang, one locally made cut-to-size single barrel gun with stocked expended cartridges, and three live cartridges. Two male gang members: Idigbe Osreis (19) and Idigbe Perfect (16) were later arrested at their hideout.”
The statement said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing member, and also to recover more of their operation arms.
The Delta State, Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, while” “emphasizing the necessity of adequate parenting as an essentiality in the fight against crime, advices that parents should be alive to their responsibilities, and safeguard the future of their wards by monitoring and teaching them valuable precautionary lessons that will help them avoid bad companies and hence stay away from criminal activities.”
