Delta police kill armed robber, arrest notorious car snatcher, one other suspect

 

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have shot dead a suspected armed robber during gun battle, arrested a notorious car snatcher and another robbery suspect.

The state police spokesperson, DSP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, March 4, said that a stolen vehicle, POS machines, ATM cards, two locally made pistols, one expanded cartridge and a complete military camouflage uniform were recovered from the suspects.

Edafe said that the deceased robber identified as Christopher was a member of a gang that robbed a PoS operator at Osubi-Orerokpe in Warri.

“On the 1/03/2022 at about 1100hrs, Police patrol team attached to ‘B’ Division Warri while on routine patrol along Okere market junction Warri, intercepted a four (4) man armed robbery gang operating with a mini bus with reg. no. Delta DSZ 912 XA. On sighting the Police team, the hoodlums shot at the Police and zoomed off, Edafe stated.

“The patrol team chased the hoodlums to Makaiva market while exchanging gun fire with them but seized fire when they got to the market due to the crowd. The hoodlums alighted from the vehicle and ran into the crowd but one of the suspects was arrested with gunshot injuries he sustained during the gun duel.

“The suspect named Christopher (surname unknown) confessed being a member of the armed robbery gang that robbed a POS lady at Osubi-Orerokpe earlier in the day. Suspect was taken to General Hospital, Warri where he died while receiving treatment.

“The mini bus, one expended cartridge, two (2) POS machines, two female bags containing two ATM cards, one driver’s license bearing Ogagbe Godspower, one(1) power bank and a bible were recovered. Manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang is ongoing,” he added.

Police operatives also arrested a suspect who specialises in snatching vehicles in Warri and recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux from his possession.

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“On the 02/03/2022 at about 1024hrs, acting on intelligence gathered that one Richard Tobi ‘m’ of Obibo Port-Harcourt, Rivers State who specializes in snatching vehicles was around Warri, operatives of ‘A’ Division Warri were detailed to trail and arrest him with a view to seeing that he is brought to book,” the statement read.

"Consequently, upon technical intelligence led investigation, suspect was trailed to Mammy market Effurun in Uvwie LGA where he was arrested and different vehicle plate numbers were instantly recovered from him. Upon further investigation, the suspect led Operatives to his base where one Toyota Hilux with Reg. No. UYY 210 GT suspected to have been stolen at Akwa-Ibom was recovered. Suspect has been charged to court and remanded in prison custody,”

In another development, on March 1, at about 12pm, operatives of Eagle-Net Special Squad on Aberdeen system of patrol along Asaba Benin Express way, intercepted a white colored Toyota Hiace commercial bus with reg. no. AGB 439 XT conveying passengers from Benin to Onitsha.

The passengers were subjected to search during which one locally made pistol, one expended cartridge, a complete military camouflage uniform, one Samsung S8 mobile phone, some substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one army colored wrist watch, two other wrist watches and clothings were recovered from a male passenger.

The passenger was identified as Billy Saul, 30, of no. 12 Ekae Street off Sapele road Benin city, a native of Akunza in Lafia LGA of Nasarawa State. Investigation is ongoing.

Similarly, on 3/3/2022, the DPO Isiokolo led a combined team of Police/vigilante and raided a suspected kidnapper’s den in Kokori, Ethiope east LGA, and recovered one locally cut to size gun and six live cartridges. Efforts are on to arrest the suspects.