An armed robbery suspect has been shot dead by men of the Edo State Police Command on Christmas day.

The deceased suspect met his waterloo at Technical College Road in Benin City, Edo State.

The deceased and his cohorts now at large allegedly stormed a house at Uselu in Benin City where they forcefully entered the compound and ransacked all the apartments while the Christmas celebration was going on.

In one of the apartments, according to reports, they requested for the key of a Toyota Camry car which they used in parking many household items before zooming off.

After a successful operation where they collected cash, mobile phones and other personal items, the deceased suspect and his alleged gang members shot sporadically into the air to scare the residents.

They then went on an alleged armed robbery spree, attacking and robbing any shop insight in Uselu area

It was gathered that the hoodlums later attacked a confectionary shop along Technical College road in Uselu, Benin city and robbed the owner of the shop and all her customers.

During the robbery operation, a distress call was quickly sent to men of the Ugbowo Police Division who responded swiftly.

One of them, however, fell to the superior firepower of the police as he was fatally hit by police bullets.

Other gang members then abandoned the snatched Toyota Camry car and escaped.

Some of the victims commended Edo state police command and the vigilante members for their timely intervention.

When contacted, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident said other members of the gang escaped with gunshot wounds.

• Text (excluding headline) courtesy ofIndependent.