By Augustine Ehikioya
Towards sustaining law and order in Delta State, Police officials in the State have arrested suspected armed robbers.
One of the suspects during gun fire exchange with the Police was fatally wounded and later died in an hospital.
Items recovered from the Police operations included guns, ammunition, and suspected stolen motorcycles.
These were disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, and made available to Security Watch Africa (SWA).
It said “On 21/6/2022, the DPO Kwale Division received a distress call that an armed robbery operation was taking place along Jesus Avenue in Umusadege Quarters in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, the DPO Kwale Division, CSP Godwin Igoche mobilized and led the Divisional Anti-Crime Patrol team to the scene, the suspects on sighting the Police, engaged them in a gun duel, during which, one of the hoodlums sustained bullet injuries while others escaped.
“One locally made gun, four live cartridges, and four expended cartridges were recovered. The injured suspect was taken to the hospital where he died while receiving treatment.”
It also maintained that manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang was still ongoing.
On the 20/06/2022, the statement also revealed that the Divisional Anti Crime Patrol team attached to ‘C’ Division Asaba while on stop and search duty at the head-bridge Asaba, Delta State around 0830hrs, “intercepted an unregistered KC Sanya motorcycle conveying four men including the rider, one of them holding a black polythene bag.
“Upon sighting the Police, they abandoned the bike and took to their heels, the Officers gave them a hot chase culminating in the arrest of two of the four suspects namely; Michael Reuben ‘m’ 29yrs and Odemba Onochie ‘m’ 30yrs, both of Okoanala Oko in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State.
“In the black polythene bag in possession of one of the suspects, Michael Reuben, one hundred (100) rounds of 7.62MM AK 47 live ammunition were recovered hidden inside the bag.”
It said manhunt for the other fleeing suspects is ongoing.
For the third case, the statement said “On the 16/06/2022, at about 1930hrs, Operatives of Command Special Intelligence Team acting on intelligence, embarked on a sting covert operation at Onicho-Ugbo Community which led to the arrest of two suspects; Ifeanyi Anakwe Samson (an ex-convict) “m” age 28yrs of Ushi Quarters, Onicho-Ugbo and Chibuzor Obugor “m” age 20yrs of Ugoko community all in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, one fabricated English pistol was recovered from them.
“Consequently, as a follow on the case, acting on the strength of the confession of the suspects, the Operatives stormed Onicho-Ugbo community and arrested three additional suspects; Ike Okwudili “m” age 34yrs (the gang leader), a native of Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State but resident in Onicho-Ugbo community, Udoka Onyekanu Promise “m” 17yrs, a native of Igbodo village in Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State, and Chiazor Daniel “m” 26yrs of Onicho-Ugbo community.”
The team, it said, also recovered a Lifan Super Ladies and Sanya Super Honda Motorcycles from the suspects.
Investigation, the statement said, is ongoing on the case.