By NWANOSIKE ONU, Awka

A member of an alleged armed robbery syndicate terrorising Isiagu area in Awka South local government area of Anambra State has been killed by Police.

Other suspected members of the gang escaped into the bush when they engaged members of the State Anti- Robbery Squad SARs and vigilance men in a gun duel.

The incident happened at Isiagu ring road Awka, Awka South local government area of Anambra State around 9 pm on Friday

The Nation gathered the suspects, numbering over six, had robbed three occupants of a black Accura legend Car with Lagos Registration number SMK878GL of their valuables at gunpoint.

Police Public Relation’s Officer, PPRO, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed this to The Nation in Awka.

He said the Command got to know the robbery operation through a distress call and swung into action immediately.

Haruna said efforts were still on by the command to apprehend the other suspects on the run, assuring residents not to panic

According to him: “Following the distress call, Police operatives attached to the Command Special Anti -Robbery Squad (SARS) CPS Awka and local vigilante quickly responded and rushed to the scene.

“As soon as the suspected armed robbers sighted the police, they engaged them into a fierce gun battle, forcing the hoodlums to jettison the robbery operation and scamper into the bush for safety.

“However, during the gun duel, one of the gang members, whose identity is yet unknown was fatally wounded

He said items recovered from the suspects include one fabricated gun, three cartridges, one torchlight, three assorted handsets, and a cash sum of money allegedly snatched from the victims.

“The injured Suspect was rushed to the hospital for treatment but certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor and his corpse deposited in the mortuary,” he added.

However, he said the bush where the suspects ran into had been cordoned off by the Police, which according to him, led to the recovery of another fabricated pistol with four rounds of .9mm life ammunition.

Haruna appealed to residents to report to the nearest police station, any person with bullet injuries to enable the Command to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the injury. (The Nation)

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