Rivers: Police kill two robbers in gun battle

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have killed two suspected armed robbers during an exchange of gunfire at a filling station in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

The hoodlums had attempted to escape when they sighted a group of policemen in their patrol vehicle.

It was gathered that the hoodlums began shooting at the advancing security operatives.

Both the hoodlums and the police were forced to stop at a filling station located along the East-West Road in Tai LGA, where they engaged each other in a gun battle that lasted for about 10 minutes.

Motorists and passersby were said to have scampered for safety as the deafening gunshots raged.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, who spoke on the matter in Port Harcourt, explained that the incident occurred on at about 3.30pm on Wednesday.

He confirmed that two armed robbers were killed as a result of the superior fire power of the security operatives during the shootout.

He added that Eze was arrested after the police combed a bush close to the filling station where the shootout took place.

“On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at about 3:30pm, a team of policemen on a tip-off stormed the robbery scene. The armed robbers, who on sensing that the police were approaching them fled the scene.

“As the police gave them a hot chase, a gun duel ensued and in the process two of the armed robbers were fatally wounded while others escaped with gunshot wounds after they were overpowered by the overwhelming fire power of the police.

“One fleeing armed robber namely Emeka Eze, 28, was later arrested following immediate combing of the bush around the scene,” the state police spokesman added.

Mohammad disclosed that one AK-47, one magazine and 20 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition were among the dangerous items recovered from the hoodlums.

Mohammad, however, explained that the incident was part of the ongoing onslaught against criminals in the state, even as he warned bandits to leave the state or be ready to face the wrath of the law when caught.