An armed robber was neutralised by personnel of the Ekpan Divisional undercover surveillance patrol team, and the criminal was found to be carrying a cut-to-size double-barrel gun with two live cartridges.
According to a press release signed by the Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe said that the incident occurred on May 31, 2024.
Police operatives while on routine patrol along Army Barracks Link Road, off Refinery Road, Ekpan, were double-crossed by a tricycle with three occupants in their usual style of robbing innocent citizens but on noticing they were policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels.
However, the police gave them a hot chase during which one of the suspects was arrested with a black bag. One cut-to-size double barrel gun with two live cartridges was recovered in the bag.
Upon interrogation, the arrested suspect stated that the two other suspects who escaped were his gang members, and they usually double-crossed their victims, robbed them, and sometimes kidnapped them.
Following his confession, the suspect was taken to their hideouts, along NNPC Link Road, where he jumped into the bridge in an attempt to escape but was maimed by the police operatives.
The suspect was subsequently taken to Ekpan General Hospital for medication but was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
The police said that efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gang is ongoing.
In a similar development, on June 2, 2024, at about 2315hrs, the Divisional Police Officer, Okpanam Division reportedly received a distress call that some young men numbering seven came with two motorcycles and robbed one young man (name withheld).
SP Bright Edafe said that the Okpanam Division DPO led operatives to the scene where the suspects on sighting the DPO and his men took to their heels.
Six of the suspects escaped while one of them identified as Emeka Okafor was arrested and the motorcycle was recovered.
The police statement noted that the manhunt for the fleeing suspects is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda has commended the DPO, Okpanam “for his swift response and dedication to duty” urging officers and men of the Command to do the same for their Areas of responsibility to be peaceful.
The CP also urged residents to be security conscious, monitor their environments and report any suspicious persons or movements to the Police.
